Israel has intensified its military operations in Gaza City, leading to significant casualties and mass displacement, while the United Nations issues stark warnings about severe humanitarian consequences. The Israeli military has escalated airstrikes and is preparing for a ground offensive, with hospitals reporting over 30 Palestinians killed, including women and children, in recent attacks.
The UN and aid groups emphasize that the operations are causing ‘horrific humanitarian consequences’ for displaced families, with a famine declared in Gaza last month exacerbating the crisis. Forcing hundreds of thousands to move could amount to forcible transfer under international law, as many are unable to relocate due to high costs and lack of safe space. The Gaza Site Management Cluster reported more than 82,000 new displacements since mid-August, with most heading to crowded coastal areas.
Only a third of displaced people have followed Israeli instructions to move south to al-Mawasi, where conditions are overcrowded and unsafe, with southern hospitals operating beyond capacity. Tragic incidents, such as the death of five children while queuing for water, highlight the dire situation. In one case, a three-year-old boy survived an attack that killed his family, illustrating the human toll.
This escalation is part of Israel’s Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots’, aimed at defeating Hamas following the October 7, 2023 attack, which killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages. The conflict has resulted in over 63,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza, with hundreds more from malnutrition and starvation.
In Israel, protesters engaged in a ‘day of disruption’, demanding an immediate hostage deal and expressing fears that the offensive endangers captives. Regional mediators have proposed a 60-day truce for hostage release, but Prime Minister Netanyahu insists on a comprehensive deal involving all hostages and Hamas’s disarmament.
The intensifying attacks and displacement raise concerns about further loss of life and a deepening humanitarian crisis. The international community, including the U.S., has called for restraint, but the situation remains volatile, underscoring the urgent need for increased aid and diplomatic efforts to prevent catastrophe.