Hundreds of families displaced by wave of Israeli air strikes on Gaza, witnesses say

Witnesses report that Israel has conducted a series of air strikes across the Gaza Strip, leading to the large-scale displacement of numerous Palestinian families. Rescue crews retrieved the remains of five individuals, while numerous wounded civilians were transported to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, as per local accounts.

The shelling comes after one of the largest evacuation announcements made since the conflict restarted in March.

This arises as pressure mounts on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to redirect efforts toward achieving a ceasefire agreement. Residents in Gaza City reported that numerous Israeli airstrikes hit densely populated eastern areas, such as Shujaiya, Tuffah, and Zeitoun.

Activists shared videos on social media that showcased chaotic scenes and blasts lighting up the night sky, with flames and dense smoke billowing above the cityscape. One of the attacks allegedly struck a school in Zeitoun that was housing displaced families. The five deaths are said to have happened in an attack on the Al Shati camp, located to the west of Gaza City.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) previously instructed inhabitants to evacuate extensive areas of northern Gaza, expecting the assaults. The majority of those displaced overnight relocated westward within Gaza City instead of heading to the southern area as directed by the IDF.

“We had no choice but to leave everything behind,” said Abeer Talba, a mother of seven who fled Zeitoun with her family. “We got phone calls recordings in Arabic telling us we were in a combat zone and must evacuate immediately. “This is the seventh time we’ve been forced to flee,” she added. “We’re in the streets again, no food, no water. My children are starving. Death feels kinder than this.”

As the humanitarian crisis intensifies, concerns are rising that the evacuation orders and ongoing air strikes may be components of a larger Israeli strategy to extend its ground operations further into Gaza. However, there is also conjecture in Israeli media that certain generals are approaching a conclusion that military operations in Gaza are close to being accomplished.

Many former military leaders share this perspective, expressing concern that the Gaza campaign’s shift to a more attritional, guerrilla-type warfare could result in increased fatalities among hostages, civilians, and soldiers. The upcoming actions of the Israeli prime minister are under careful scrutiny. Although Benjamin Netanyahu’s inclination has consistently been to prolong the conflict and overcome Hamas, he faces mounting pressure both domestically and internationally to seek a new ceasefire deal.