The Israeli military announced on Thursday that 700,000 Palestinians have fled from Gaza City to the south since late August, as they continue an air and ground assault on the urban center.
When questioned by AFP, the military confirmed that “700,000 Palestinians have evacuated” from Gaza City to the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, reported on Thursday that 388,400 displacement movements have been recorded since mid-August, with most originating from Gaza City.
The United Nations estimated at the end of August that approximately one million people resided in Gaza City and its surrounding areas, where it has declared a famine.
Israel has launched a significant air and ground offensive on the Palestinian territory’s primary urban hub, claiming it aims to eliminate Hamas after nearly two years of devastating conflict.
“Over the past week, strikes in Gaza City have been particularly intense, targeting IDP (internally displaced person) tents, residential buildings, and public infrastructure, often resulting in high casualty numbers,” OCHA stated.
Gaza’s civil defense agency, a rescue force operating under Hamas authority, reported that Israeli strikes killed 22 people across the territory on Thursday, including five in Gaza City.
An air strike on a home where displaced individuals had sought refuge in central Gaza resulted in 11 fatalities, according to the civil defense.
Media restrictions in the area and challenges in accessing many regions prevent AFP from independently verifying the information provided by the civil defense or the Israeli military.
AFP footage from the aftermath of the strike in Al-Zawaida camp showed Palestinians digging through debris in search of survivors.
“The entire area was destroyed, leaving nothing suitable for human use,” said resident Youssef Younis.
Another Al Zawaida resident, Ahmed Abu Dahrouj, stated: “Our message is that the war must end immediately because we are facing extermination.”
Over nearly two years, Israeli military offensives have resulted in the deaths of at least 65,502 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, figures the UN considers reliable.
The conflict was ignited by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which led to the deaths of 1,219 people, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.
