In exclusive statements to ‘Sputnik,’ it was mentioned that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians inside Gaza City are being besieged in an area not exceeding 12 square kilometers. There is an almost complete collapse of all humanitarian services provided by the municipalities or UNRWA and other relief organizations. It was added that work had to stop at the Beach Camp clinic in that area, and 10 of the agency’s schools and clinics were heavily bombarded, which were sheltering thousands of Palestinian families. The situation is completely deteriorated, and if it continues this way, more casualties, both killed and injured, are expected.
It was explained that the destruction of towers and residential buildings, and thousands of tents, is being carried out by the Israeli army to force Palestinians to move to southern Gaza. It was revealed that this area was declared a famine zone weeks ago by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, with half a million starving people. Dr. Abu Hasna emphasized that there is an effort today to push a million Palestinians residing in Gaza City to the south, asserting that there are no places in the south to accommodate them, no tents, no infrastructure, and the areas are unsafe with bombings and killings everywhere. Famine has started spreading in the southern area.
He continued, ‘What is happening is making life impossible for Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip, where 1.2 million Palestinians live in an area of 35 square kilometers. Abu Hasna believes that Israel wants to push another million Palestinians to the south today, which means every square kilometer would contain 70,000 Palestinians, which is entirely impossible, asserting that the situation is extremely dangerous.’
The Israeli army announced on Tuesday, September 16, that it began advancing towards Gaza City to eliminate Hamas fighters and other Palestinian factions and to liberate Israeli hostages, as stated. It is supported by artillery and air support and continuous bombardment.
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated after the overnight raids on the Gaza Strip, Monday night, that the city is ‘burning.’ Gaza City witnessed the most violent Israeli attacks on Monday night/Tuesday morning, as Israel launched an intensive attack on the city in preparation for a ground operation. According to local media, daily bombardment of towers and residential buildings in Gaza City continues as usual.
It is noted that Israel’s plan to control Gaza City, known as ‘Gideon’s Chariots 2,’ includes forcibly displacing about a million Palestinians to the southern sector, which has led to widespread international criticism of Israel, which continues its preparations to implement the plan despite all warnings.
