Harrowing images emerging from Gaza capture scenes of panic and desperation as families scramble to survive under relentless Israeli bombardment. Parents clutching their children were seen sprinting through streets filled with smoke and fire, while others crouched behind cars in a desperate attempt to shield themselves from the blasts.
On Tuesday, Israel formally announced plans to seize control of the territory, mobilising 60,000 reserve troops as part of its newly approved military operation, “Gideon’s Chariots II.” The invasion plan, authorised by Defence Minister Israel Katz, is expected to displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes.
Fresh attacks on Thursday targeted a camp for displaced Palestinians in Deir al-Balah, where nearly 200 families had sought shelter. The strikes caused extensive destruction to makeshift homes and further swelled the number of internally displaced people.
Neighbourhoods in ez-Zeytun and Shuja’iyya were also hit, with thick plumes of smoke rising over residential blocks as residents fled the devastation.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that Israel’s war on Gaza has killed 62,192 Palestinians and injured 157,114 since October 7, 2023.
In just the past 24 hours 70 Palestinians were killed, including 18 people waiting for humanitarian aid.
356 others were wounded in airstrikes across the city.
Two more deaths were recorded due to famine and malnutrition, bringing the total number of hunger-related fatalities to 271, including 112 children.
0Humanitarian groups warn that widespread shortages of food, water, and medical supplies are compounding the crisis as the conflict escalates.
The move to occupy Gaza has drawn condemnation from the United Nations, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning of dire consequences.
“This decision marks a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and Israeli captives in Gaza,” his office said in a statement.
Guterres cautioned that Israel’s military push could trigger “additional forced displacement, killings, and massive destruction”, worsening an already dire humanitarian catastrophe.
Analysts say Israel’s expanded offensive risks destabilising the broader Middle East, with fears that the fighting could draw in regional actors and intensify tensions between Israel and its neighbours. Meanwhile, calls for a ceasefire and renewed humanitarian access are growing from aid organisations and international diplomats.
For ordinary Palestinians, however, the focus remains on immediate survival as airstrikes continue to pound Gaza’s already devastated infrastructure.
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