Israel has ordered the entire population of Gaza City to leave, as its forces prepare to capture the north of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli airstrikes have continued to destroy tower blocks, and the army says it now has operational control of 40% of the city, as ground forces prepare to fight what prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the 'last important stronghold' of Hamas.
Netanyahu this week stated that 100,000 people had left the city, but up to a million people are still living there – many in tents or shelters. Many residents express that they will not – or cannot – leave.
Ammar Sukkar, a resident, called on Hamas negotiators to discuss matters from a tent rather than from comfort in Qatar, insisting that he would remain in Gaza City. 'Whether you like it or not, Netanyahu, we're not leaving,' he declared. 'This is my land.'
Another resident, Wael Shaban, relayed their experience of being given just 15 minutes to flee before a strike hit their area, leaving them with nothing but despair over their ability to find resources to move south.
Israel's army has assured residents that there are safe zones south with adequate food and shelter, yet aid organizations report these areas are already overcrowded and lack essential resources. The ICRC has deemed the mass evacuation plan as 'unfeasible' and 'incomprehensible.'
While Israel establishes new aid sites near Rafah, journalists are allowed limited access to the besieged region under strict military control, emphasizing the dire environment faced by the population.
As violence escalates, observers are concerned about the long-term implications of continued military operations amid fears for the safety of those remaining in Gaza City.
