Amidst escalating tensions in Gaza City, tens of thousands of Palestinians are fleeing the area as the Israeli government prepares for a full-scale takeover to eradicate Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly planning to halt humanitarian aid drops and reduce the arrival of aid trucks in the northern part of the Strip in the coming days.
The military operation aims to evacuate 1 million Palestinians from Gaza City before the planned takeover in mid-September. Caravans of Palestinians have already been observed heading south from the city, with an estimated 23,000 people fleeing over the past week, according to the United Nations.
Israel recently declared Gaza City a “dangerous combat zone,” citing it as a Hamas stronghold. In a recent incident, seven Israeli soldiers were wounded when their armored truck ran over an explosive device in the Zeitoun neighborhood. Hamas has warned that Israeli hostages are being held alongside their fighters in Gaza City, increasing the risk of being caught in the crossfire as tensions escalate.
The spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing, Abu Obeida, has issued warnings to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), stating that hostages will remain with their fighters in the conflict zones, exposed to the same risks. Obeida also threatened that Hamas is on high alert and prepared to teach the IDF a “harsh lesson” as the situation intensifies.
Furthermore, Hamas has threatened to publish the names and photographs of hostages allegedly killed by the IDF during the takeover. Currently, 48 hostages are held by Hamas in Gaza, with around 20 believed to be still alive. Israeli defense chiefs are expected to propose backing a ceasefire and hostage-release agreement accepted by Hamas, rather than pursuing the offensive in Gaza City at a security cabinet meeting.
Netanyahu has expressed his commitment to eradicating Hamas and freeing all remaining hostages to end the ongoing conflict. Families of the hostages have also urged the Israeli government to prioritize reaching a ceasefire deal to bring their loved ones home safely.
As tensions continue to rise in Gaza City, the international community closely monitors the situation, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
