Israel Opens New Route for Gaza Evacuations Amid Intensified Assault

The Israeli military announced on Wednesday the opening of an additional evacuation route for Palestinians in Gaza City, allowing civilians to leave for a period of 48 hours. This move comes as Israel escalates its military operations aimed at clearing the city of civilians while confronting significant numbers of Hamas fighters. Reports indicate that hundreds of thousands of people remain in Gaza City, many hesitant to follow evacuation orders due to treacherous conditions along the routes to the south, severe shortages of food, and fears of permanent displacement.

“Even if we want to leave Gaza City, is there any guarantee we would be able to come back? Will the war ever end? That’s why I prefer to die here, in Sabra, my neighbourhood,” stated Ahmed, a schoolteacher in the city, reflecting the sentiments of many residents. According to local health authorities, at least 30 people were killed across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday alone, including 19 in Gaza City.

Military Actions and Civilian Concerns

Israel’s military operations have intensified since the announcement of a ground offensive targeting Gaza’s urban areas. Tanks have advanced into central and western regions of the city from multiple directions, although no significant territorial gains have been reported. An Israeli official indicated that the focus of military efforts is to encourage civilians to move southward and warned that fighting is expected to escalate over the next few months.

The official projected that around 100,000 civilians might remain in Gaza City, complicating the operation to capture the city, which could take months. The official also mentioned that operations might cease if a ceasefire were reached with Hamas, although prospects for such an agreement seem bleak. This follows Israeli attacks on Hamas political leaders in Doha, which have caused tensions with Qatar, a co-mediator in ceasefire discussions.

During a visit to Doha on Tuesday, Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, indicated there was “a very short window of time” for a potential ceasefire, referring to Israel’s firm intention to eliminate Hamas forces in Gaza.

In a bid to facilitate civilian movement, the Israeli military distributed leaflets throughout Gaza City announcing the reopening of the Salahudin Road for evacuation. The leaflets instructed residents to follow designated yellow-marked routes for transit to the south, with a deadline set for lunchtime on Friday. Despite these directives, many civilians have been fleeing on foot, in vehicles, or even via donkey carts, amid ongoing chaos and danger.

Destruction and Humanitarian Crisis

The situation in Gaza City has deteriorated significantly since the beginning of the conflict, with much of the area heavily damaged. Reports suggest that around one million Palestinians returned to the city, seeking shelter among the ruins. Forcing them to evacuate could lead to overcrowded conditions in the southern region, which is already facing a hunger crisis.

The United Nations and various aid organizations have condemned Israel’s military actions and the proposed mass displacement of civilians. A recent UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel has committed acts of genocide in Gaza. Israel has dismissed this assessment as “scandalous” and “fake.”

Israeli forces are currently targeting Gaza City’s eastern suburbs and intensifying strikes on three key areas, with tanks moving closer to the city’s center. “Gaza is being wiped out. A city that is thousands of years old is being wiped out in front of the whole cowardly world,” lamented Ahmed.

According to the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, since August 10, 2023, Israeli forces have destroyed or damaged approximately 1,600 residential buildings and have dismantled 13,000 tents that provided shelter for displaced individuals. Israeli estimates suggest that 40 percent of the population initially present in Gaza City on August 10 has since evacuated, with reports indicating that about 190,000 have moved south and 350,000 have relocated to central and western areas of the city.

Since the outbreak of hostilities, which began when Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, Israeli military actions have resulted in the deaths of over 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. As the conflict continues, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, leaving countless residents in precarious situations.