Displacement Intensifies Amid Renewed Strikes
The Israeli military issued fresh evacuation orders for residents in Shejaia, an eastern suburb of Gaza City, sparking another wave of mass displacement. The orders, announced late Saturday on social media, warned residents to leave immediately for their safety, citing militant rocket fire from the heavily populated district.
The evacuation follows claims by Hamas’ armed wing of firing rockets at an Israeli army base on Saturday. Videos shared online, yet to be independently verified, showed families leaving Shejaia on foot, donkey carts, and rickshaws. Palestinian media reported that people began fleeing their homes after nightfall, continuing into the early hours of Sunday.
Airstrikes and Hospital Bombing
Israeli airstrikes targeted central Gaza, killing at least ten Palestinians in the Al-Maghazi and Al-Bureij camps since Saturday night, according to health officials.
In northern Gaza, Kamal Adwan Hospital director Hussam Abu Safiya was injured in an Israeli drone attack. Speaking from his hospital bed, Abu Safiya stated, “This will not deter us from our humanitarian mission.” Kamal Adwan is among three hospitals in northern Gaza that face severe operational challenges due to restricted access to medical supplies and personnel, health officials said.
Israeli forces accuse militants of using civilian buildings for cover, including hospitals, while Hamas denies these allegations, accusing Israel of indiscriminate targeting.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The ongoing conflict has devastated Gaza, with over 44,000 Palestinians killed and nearly all of the enclave’s 2.3 million residents displaced at least once, according to local authorities.
The war began 13 months ago following a Hamas-led cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in over 250 hostages being taken into Gaza. Israel’s intensified military campaign has reduced large parts of the coastal territory to rubble, while accusations persist over attempts to permanently depopulate northern Gaza claims Israel denies.
As the conflict escalates, the humanitarian toll continues to rise, with international calls for solutions growing louder.