CAIRO: Israel rushed into a neighborhood in Gaza City on Thursday, ordering Palestinian people to move south as the tanks rolled in and bombed the southern city of Rafah in what it says are the final stages of an operation against Hamas operatives in the besieged territory.
Tensions escalated sharply in Gaza as Israeli troops entered the Shejaia neighborhood and ordered residents to evacuate southward. The move comes amid international calls for a ceasefire and heightened humanitarian concerns in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
Witnesses reported hearing tanks and drones in the early afternoon, marking a significant escalation in hostilities. Mohammed Jamal, a resident of Gaza City, described the scene as a signal of the war’s onset, with Israeli bombings destroying Palestinians’ homes and causing widespread panic among civilians. “It sounded as if the war is restarting, a series of bombings that destroyed several houses in our area and shook the buildings,” Mohammad Jamal told Reuters via a chat app.
The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service confirmed that at least seven people had been killed in Shejaia, with fears of additional casualties trapped under rubble. Distressing footage showed residents, including women and children carrying belongings, fleeing the area as airstrikes intensified.
“This is the occupation targeting us, targeting children,” exclaimed a distraught man carrying a bleeding child amidst the chaos.
Israeli military spokespersons declined to comment on casualty reports but reiterated their stance of targeting operatives while warning civilians to evacuate for their safety. Reports indicated that Israeli forces had moved into Shejaia before issuing evacuation notices, complicating escape routes for residents.
The ongoing Israeli bombardment, which has continued for over eight months since the October 7 attack, has exacerbated humanitarian crises in Gaza. Aid agencies warn of impending famine, affecting nearly half a million Palestinian people amid severe food insecurity.
In southern Gaza, unverified drone footage circulated on social media showed extensive destruction in Rafah, including reports of entire villages razed. The Israeli military has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the airstrikes in Rafah.
International efforts to broker a ceasefire have thus far been unsuccessful, despite ongoing mediation backed by the United States. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant discussed proposals for post-war governance of Gaza during his visit to Washington.
Hamas insists on a comprehensive agreement that includes a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to hostilities, whereas Israel has expressed willingness only for temporary ceasefires until the group is eradicated.
Since the onset of the Israeli offensive, Gaza’s health ministry reported a staggering death toll of 37,765 Palestinian people, mostly women and children. Israel has confirmed the deaths of 314 soldiers in the conflict.
