Israel's Escalating Gaza Attacks Force Starving Palestinians to Flee

Escalating Attacks and Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Israel’s military has intensified its attacks on Gaza City, marking a significant escalation in operations aimed at seizing the last major population center within the enclave. This move has forced tens of thousands of starving Palestinians to flee once again, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.

The neighborhoods of Zeitoun, Sabra, Remal, and Tuffah have been particularly hard hit by recent Israeli bombardments. A spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs highlighted that Israel’s plan to forcibly displace Palestinians to southern Gaza would only increase their suffering. The devastation in these areas is evident, with thousands of families fleeing as days of continuous strikes have left the neighborhoods in ruins.

On Sunday, an Israeli air strike hit al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, killing at least seven people. Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced plans to provide tents and equipment to help displaced Palestinians, but critics argue this is merely a temporary solution amid 22 months of war that has been labeled as genocide by multiple human rights organizations.

A Growing Sense of Despair

Al Jazeera's reporter Hind Khoudary, based in Deir el-Balah, described the situation as one of chaos and desperation. She noted that the densely populated neighborhood of Zeitoun has become a focal point for displacement, with residents caught off guard by the sudden intensity of artillery fire and air raids. Many were forced to evacuate, leaving behind everything they had in the face of escalating violence.

International condemnation has followed Israel’s announcement to push deeper into Gaza City and relocate its residents to the south. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces charges at the International Criminal Court for war crimes, claimed that civilians would be moved to “safe zones.” However, these areas have also been repeatedly bombed, raising concerns about the true intentions behind the move.

Rising Death Toll and Starvation

The ongoing conflict has left nearly 90% of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents displaced, with many facing starvation. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least seven more Palestinians died of starvation in 24 hours, bringing the hunger-related death toll to 258, including 110 children. On Sunday alone, Israel killed nearly 40 Palestinians, half of whom were aid seekers, increasing the total number of Palestinian casualties since the war began in October 2023 to 61,827.

Hamas has denounced Israel’s efforts to set up tents in the south as a cover for mass displacement, calling it a “new wave of genocide and displacement.” The group accused Israel of using deception to hide its brutal actions against the civilian population.

Life Amidst Suffering

Maram Humaid, Al Jazeera’s online correspondent from Gaza, captured the mood of despair among Gazans. She described the atmosphere as one filled with fear, helplessness, and pain, as people face yet another wave of displacement and ground operations. WhatsApp groups are flooded with messages expressing sorrow and anguish, as families struggle to cope with the relentless violence and loss.

Displaced Palestinians are scrambling for scraps of food as they endure more bombardment from Israeli forces. The UN reports that one in five children in Gaza is malnourished, with tens of thousands relying on charity kitchens for survival. These small portions of food can be their only meal of the day.

Zeinab Nabahan, a displaced mother from the Jabalia refugee camp, shared her struggles with Al Jazeera. She described waking up at 6am to get food for her children, knowing that if she doesn’t secure it now, she’ll have to return in the evening. Her children, she said, have been surviving on small amounts of lentils or rice, with no bread or breakfast to sustain them.

Another resident, Tayseer Naim, expressed similar sentiments, stating that without charity kitchens, he wouldn’t have survived. He described the daily struggle of arriving at 8am and enduring long lines to receive basic meals of lentils or rice, often walking for over a kilometer afterward.

A Man-Made Famine

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has warned that Gaza is on the brink of a “man-made famine,” urging a return to a UN-led distribution system. Juliette Touma, the agency’s communications director, emphasized that the crisis has been exacerbated by deliberate attempts to replace the UN-coordinated humanitarian system with a politically motivated alternative.

She criticized the system promoted by Israel and the U.S., warning that it brings “dehumanisation, chaos, and death.” She called for a return to a unified, UN-led coordination system based on international humanitarian law, stressing that the current situation is an abomination.

The Gaza Government Media Office accused Israel of deliberately starving Palestinians by blocking essential goods such as baby formula, nutritional supplements, meat, fish, dairy products, and frozen fruits and vegetables. It described Israel’s actions as a systematic policy of engineered starvation and slow killing, labeling it a complete crime of genocide.

Amjad Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGOs Network in Gaza City, highlighted the challenges faced by aid workers. He stated that while they continue to provide limited meals, medical care, and education, the humanitarian system is collapsing under the weight of Israeli attacks on aid facilities and supply restrictions.