Israel has carried out a wave of air strikes across the Gaza Strip, triggering the mass displacement of hundreds of Palestinian families, witnesses say. Rescue teams recovered the bodies of five people, while dozens of injured civilians were evacuated to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, according to local reports. The bombardment follows one of the largest evacuation orders issued since the war resumed in March. It comes amid increasing pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refocus efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement. Residents in Gaza City said dozens of Israeli air raids targeted densely populated eastern neighbourhoods, including Shujaiya, Tuffah, and Zeitoun. Videos posted by activists on social media captured scenes of chaos and explosions illuminating the night sky, followed by flames and thick plumes of smoke rising above the skyline. One of the strikes reportedly hit a school in Zeitoun that had been sheltering displaced families. The five fatalities reportedly occurred in a strike at the Al Shati camp, to the west of Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had earlier ordered residents to leave large parts of northern Gaza, in anticipation of the attacks. Most of those displaced overnight moved westwards within Gaza City rather than to the southern region as instructed 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." Amid the growing humanitarian crisis, fears are mounting that the evacuation orders and sustained air strikes are part of a broader Israeli plan to expand its ground offensive deeper into Gaza. But there is also speculation in Israeli media that some generals are close to concluding that military operations in Gaza are near to being achieved. That is also the view of many former army leaders who fear that the descent of the Gaza campaign into more attritional, guerilla-style warfare would lead to more deaths – of hostages, civilians and soldiers. The Israeli prime minister's next moves are being closely watched. While Benjamin Netanyahu's instincts have always been to continue the war and defeat Hamas, he is coming under increasing pressure at home and abroad to pursue a new ceasefire agreement.
Hundreds of families displaced by wave of Israeli air strikes on Gaza, witnesses say
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"Israeli Air Strikes Lead to Mass Displacement of Families in Gaza"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Israel has launched a series of air strikes across the Gaza Strip, leading to the displacement of hundreds of families, according to eyewitness accounts. Local reports indicate that rescue teams have recovered the bodies of five individuals, while many injured civilians have been transported to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City. This escalation follows one of the most extensive evacuation orders issued since the resumption of hostilities in March, amid growing calls for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to shift focus towards negotiating a ceasefire. Witnesses in Gaza City reported that the air raids predominantly targeted densely populated neighborhoods, including Shujaiya, Tuffah, and Zeitoun, resulting in scenes of chaos as explosions lit up the night sky and plumes of smoke billowed into the air. Notably, one of the strikes hit a school in Zeitoun that was housing displaced families, amplifying the humanitarian crisis. The fatalities occurred in a strike on the Al Shati camp located to the west of Gaza City, raising concerns about the safety of civilians amidst ongoing military operations.
As the situation deteriorates, many residents have expressed their desperation. Abeer Talba, a mother of seven, described her family's harrowing experience of being forced to evacuate once again, stating that they had no choice but to leave everything behind. She recounted receiving recorded phone messages in Arabic urging them to evacuate immediately due to the imminent danger. Talba's plea underscores the dire conditions faced by those displaced, as her family struggles with a lack of food and water, reflecting the broader humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. The Israeli Defense Forces had previously issued orders for residents to evacuate northern Gaza, yet many displaced individuals have moved westward within Gaza City instead of heading south, as directed. Amidst fears that the ongoing strikes are part of a larger plan to intensify military operations, speculation in Israeli media suggests that military leaders may be nearing a conclusion regarding the effectiveness of their current strategy. As Netanyahu faces increasing pressure both domestically and internationally, the outlook for a ceasefire remains uncertain, with many advocating for a shift in approach to mitigate further civilian suffering.
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