On Thursday, Palestinians fled from areas in Gaza City following an Israeli evacuation order and intensified bombing. The Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for neighborhoods heavily targeted and largely emptied earlier in the conflict, including Shijaiyah and surrounding areas.
Displaced resident Um Atef described the chaotic scene saying, “The missiles reached us, and here we fled. Martyrs, there are martyrs, and houses were struck on top of their owners. We do not know where to go, I swear, we do not know where to go.”
Mahmoud Daher, another displaced person, recounted the sudden evacuation saying, “They started calling us and asked us to evacuate from East al-Tuffah and East al-Shijaiyah, and as you can see, we left. There were martyrs and injuries, and there were people trapped unable to leave. The martyrs from the morning were thrown away. No one is able to reach that area because it is dangerous.”
The recent surge in bombing follows intense attacks on Gaza City in the conflict’s early weeks, which started with Hamas’ surprise assault on Israel on October 7. In response, Israel ordered the evacuation of all of northern Gaza, including Gaza City, the largest in the region.
Despite these orders, hundreds of thousands have stayed in northern Gaza, even as Israeli forces have surrounded and largely isolated the area. Videos from Shijaiyah show many residents fleeing on foot with their belongings.
There is no immediate update from Gaza’s Health Ministry, which tracks and reports casualties from the ongoing conflict.
The humanitarian situation is dire, with many families displaced and struggling to find safety amid the continuous violence.
Melissa Enoch
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