"Take advantage of this opportunity now, and head south with the hundreds of thousands of city residents who have already moved to the humanitarian zone," Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted on X today.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) urged Palestinians to travel to the "humanitarian zone" in the southern coastal city of Al-Mawasi, where they said aid, medical care, and infrastructure would be provided to support evacuees. Adraee stated that the only route south is via the Al-Rashid coastal road.
"The IDF will continue to operate with unprecedented force against Hamas and other armed groups," Adraee said, referring to the Gaza City offensive.
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Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers near the border with the Gaza Strip on 16/9. Photo: Reuters |
Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers near the border with the Gaza Strip on 16/9. Photo: Reuters
Israel launched a major ground offensive into Gaza City, in the northern Gaza Strip, on 16/9. The operation comes ahead of several Western nations, including France and the UK, expected to recognize a Palestinian state next week at the United Nations conference.
The IDF has repeatedly urged residents in the area to evacuate south. However, many people reported that the journey is too expensive, and they also don't know where to go to be safe.
Last month, the UN estimated that about 1 million people were living in Gaza City and surrounding areas. On 19/9, the Israeli military estimated that around 480,000 people had evacuated the city since last month.
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Location of Gaza City and other urban areas in the Gaza Strip. Graphic: BBC |
Location of Gaza City and other urban areas in the Gaza Strip. Graphic: BBC
Nivin Ahmed, 50, fled Gaza City south to Deir el-Balah on 18/9 with seven family members.
"We walked more than 15 km; we even had to crawl because we had no strength left," she said. "My youngest son cried from exhaustion. We took turns pulling a small cart containing our belongings."
Mona Abdel Karim, 36, said she couldn't find transportation south and slept with her family on Al-Rashid road for two nights waiting for a driver. "I feel like I'm about to explode. We can't walk, my in-laws are old and sick, and the children are too young," she said.
Video footage of Al-Rashid road on 18/9 showed long lines of people walking or on vehicles packed with belongings heading south.
In western Gaza City, Sami Baroud, 35, said intense shelling continues unabated. "Our lives are now nothing but explosions and danger," he said. "We have lost everything: our lives, our future, our sense of security. How can I evacuate when I don't even have enough money for transportation?"
The Gaza City offensive comes amid a UN investigation accusing Tel Aviv of "genocide" in the Gaza Strip, claiming that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials incited the crimes. Israel rejected the accusations and criticized the investigation for presenting "false" information.
On 18/9, the US again vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, shielding its ally Israel from diplomatic pressure.
Vu Hoang (AFP)
