Now, residents of Gaza City are speaking out about these atrocities. They worry that the soon-to-come IDF ground operations in Israel will be the opening shots of a new, wider war. As tensions rise and bombardments intensify, many find themselves caught between the threat of displacement and a fierce determination to remain in their homes. As the international community raises its outcry against Israel’s military campaign, the region’s humanitarian crisis is further deepening.
Waleed Abu Muased, a resident of a camp in Gaza, shared his anguish as he sifted through the ruins of his home. “There is nothing left, not one makeshift (tent) or anything, everything we lived with here is gone, we have nothing more to live in,” he lamented. His words reflect what so many people losing their homes, businesses, and lives to this devastation are feeling.
Military Operations and Evacuations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his military to begin negotiations immediately. For a third time, their aim has been the release of all hostages remaining in Gaza. According to a statement made to CNN by one Israeli military source, those living in heavily populated areas have two months to flee. The deadline for evacuation is October 7, ahead of a full-blown military invasion.
Islam Zayda, as resident of the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City, expressed his concerns regarding increasing attacks. He’s just as worried about what’s coming next. He stated, “It feels like the beginning of a new war.” The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have made no bones about their goal of fully dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities. They, too, have an interest in protecting civilians from their strikes.
“In response to Hamas’ barbaric attacks, the IDF is operating to dismantle Hamas military capabilities.” – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
To address the humanitarian consequences of the war, the IDF stated that it would house displaced Palestinians in temporary accommodations such as tents. Most are doubtful these new plans could even be implemented in such pandemonium. Ahmed Al-Ajla, a 38-year-old lawyer from the Al-Zaitoun neighborhood, said that he had lost hope. He said that if Israel decides to push Gaza’s inhabitants out, there’s no place for them to leave to.
Protests Amidst Rising Fear
Despite the looming threat of displacement, dozens of Palestinians gathered in Gaza City for a defiant protest against the anticipated military action. Mohammed Hamad, a protester who has already faced multiple displacements, declared, “If we leave Gaza, we will not return to it again.” Many more felt as he did, and they expressed their fierce resolve to remain. They argued that their exit would be the end of their lives in Gaza.
“We tell the world no to displacement. We tell the world that we should not leave the city of Gaza because if we leave, it means the final nail in our existence in Gaza,” – Mohammed Hamad
As they marched, local residents were citing a dramatic spike in the level of bombardment in just the past few days. Monsignor Father Gabriel Romanelli warned that the explosions were dangerously close to his parish. He testified that some of the blasts were only 500 meters away. He lamented, “Bombing continues to be heard all the time. Some are far away, others closer.”
The atmosphere is still very charged. Others worry that Israeli military operations will result in mass casualties and further exacerbate escalating humanitarian catastrophes. Zakaria Bakr, a local activist, warned about the potential for violence, stating, “They will commit massacres, bomb houses over the heads of their owners to send messages of terror and intimidation to force people to leave.”
Humanitarian Concerns
Humanitarian organizations, including UNRWA, have been sounding the alarm on the rapidly deteriorating conditions in Gaza. They are terrified that a major military escalation will only escalate an already unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Humanitarian organizations are now reporting that half a million displaced people lack access to shelters and other essential facilities.
The Israeli military has instructed medical staff and international relief agencies in northern Gaza to expect large-scale evacuations. Fears over food security and access to health care have only grown. Displacement would result in an increasingly cruel blockade on resources coming into the city.
Father Romanelli highlighted the precarious conditions facing residents: “The entire Gaza Strip is dangerous. Even more so, Gaza City.” The calls for help are everywhere increasing. Israel’s military strategy to target ‘everything’ in Gaza and its devastating effect on civilian populations has earned it the furious condemnation of the domestic and international communities.
