At least 31 Palestinians have died in Gaza City as Israel escalates its military operations in the region, according to medical officials. The violence continues to draw international condemnation, yet Israeli forces remain committed to their offensive against the territory’s principal urban center. Reports indicate that a total of 47 fatalities occurred across the Gaza Strip on Saturday.
The Israeli military has not yet issued a statement on the recent airstrikes. As is common in such conflicts, the figures provided by both sides lack independent verification. The Israeli news portal ynet reported widespread bombardment and described a “ring of fire” engulfing various areas of Gaza City, citing information from Palestinian sources.
According to the Israeli military, approximately 480,000 Palestinians have evacuated Gaza City, which previously housed about 1 million residents. Many are heading towards al-Mawasi, situated in the southwest of the territory, deemed a “humanitarian zone” by Israeli authorities. Since the onset of hostilities, the health authorities in Gaza have reported over 65,000 deaths, predominantly among civilians, although the figures do not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants.
Displaced individuals express severe distress as they struggle to escape the ongoing violence. “The situation is really bad. All night long, the tank was firing shells,” said Toufic Abu Mouawad, who fled a camp for displaced persons with no other refuge available. “I want to flee with the boys, the girls, the children. This is the situation that we are living in. It is a very tragic situation. We call on all the Arab countries and the people who have a good conscience to stand with us.”
Israeli forces currently control the eastern suburbs of Gaza City and have intensified attacks on the Sheikh Radwan and Tel al-Hawa neighborhoods. These areas serve as strategic positions for potential advances toward central and western regions, where a significant portion of the population is sheltering. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that around 350,000 people have fled Gaza City since the beginning of September, leaving an estimated 600,000 still present.
Recent satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters indicates the emergence of new tents south of Gaza City, suggesting a growing population of displaced individuals. Following the military’s guidance, leaflets dropped over the city directed residents to utilize the reopened Salah al-Din road to escape towards the south.
In a statement, the IDF confirmed an airstrike that killed Mahmoud Yusuf Abu Alkhir, identified as the deputy head of military intelligence in Hamas’ Bureij Battalion. The military claimed he was involved in planning “terrorist attacks against Israeli troops and the state.”
The conflict erupted following a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli fatalities and the abduction of 251 individuals. Families of the remaining hostages have been vocally urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt military actions and pursue negotiations for a ceasefire to secure their loved ones’ release.
On the Israeli side of the border, demonstrators gathered to demand an end to the military operations. Many held signs bearing slogans such as “Stop the genocide in Gaza” and “Free Gaza, isolate Israel.” The armed faction of Hamas asserted that hostages are spread throughout Gaza City neighborhoods, warning that “the start of this criminal operation and its expansion means you will not receive any captive, alive or dead.”
As the situation in Gaza continues to unfold, both humanitarian concerns and the complexities of the ongoing conflict remain at the forefront of international discussions.
