Thousands of residents are fleeing Gaza City’s southern Zeitoun neighborhood amid days of intense Israeli bombardment, which the city’s Hamas-run municipality has described as “catastrophic.” Gaza’s civil defense agency reported at least 40 people were killed in Israeli attacks across the territory on Saturday.
A municipal spokesperson confirmed a mass displacement from Zeitoun after six relentless days of Israeli air strikes, shelling, and demolition operations. Ghassan Kashko, 40, sheltering with his family in a school, told the AFP news agency about “explosions… that don’t stop,” adding, “We don’t know the taste of sleep.”
Amid the crisis, the Israeli military announced it would resume allowing aid agencies to bring tents into Gaza. This is part of its preparations to forcibly relocate an estimated one million people from Gaza City to camps in the south. The move follows a vote by Israel’s war cabinet to occupy Gaza City, a decision condemned by the UN Security Council.
In Israel, a one-day general strike is underway to protest the government’s handling of the war. Major roads have been blocked, and businesses in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have closed. The strike was called by families of hostages and their supporters, who argue that expanding the military operation further endangers the lives of Israelis held by Hamas. “I think it’s time to end the war. It’s time to release all of the hostages,” said Doron Wilfand, a tour guide at a rally in Jerusalem.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. According to the UN, at least 1.9 million people, or 90% of the population, have been displaced. The municipality reports that 80% of Gaza City’s infrastructure is damaged, and its four remaining hospitals are operating at less than 20% capacity due to critical shortages.
The UN and international partners have warned that famine is unfolding. On Saturday, Gaza’s hospitals reported 11 more deaths from malnutrition, bringing the total to 251, including 108 children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Separately, a 20-year-old Gazan woman evacuated to Italy for treatment died of cardiac arrest less than 48 hours after arriving, with reports indicating she was suffering from severe malnutrition.
Israel has severely restricted aid entering the territory, blaming UN agencies for failing to distribute supplies that cross the border. However, more than 100 aid organizations recently stated they have been unable to get a single truck of humanitarian supplies into Gaza since March 2. Gaza’s civil defense agency also said Israeli troops shot and killed at least 13 Palestinians waiting for food on Saturday. The UN reports that over 1,760 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid since late May, mostly by Israeli forces.
The war began on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas-led attack on Israel killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 being taken hostage. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures the UN deems reliable, Israel’s subsequent military offensive has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
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