Gaza, a narrow coastal region spanning 140 square miles along the Mediterranean, is under the control of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Amid the chaos and devastation in Gaza City, 31-year-old Mohammed Dawoud took refuge in a UN-run school with his family. As news of Israel’s broader evacuation order to the south spread, confusion reigned. With unreliable communication, power outages, and relentless airstrikes, Dawoud hesitated to move, especially with his two adult brothers with cerebral palsy. They had previously evacuated their home but had nowhere else to go, so they remained at the school.
The United Nations reported that the Israeli military had instructed northern Gaza residents, comprising roughly half of the territory’s population of over 2 million, to relocate to the south by midnight—a nearly impossible task. Israel’s military spokesman, Jonathan Conricus, noted a significant movement of Palestinians to the south following the warning.
Gaza is a small strip of land along the Mediterranean, governed by Hamas. It is effectively blockaded by Israel, creating dire living conditions with limited access to essentials like electricity and water. Crossings for food supplies are closed, and discussions about a humanitarian corridor through Egypt have not materialized.
Even before the evacuation order for Gaza City, the primary population center, residents had exhausted their options for seeking shelter. Over 270,000 Palestinians had sought refuge in around 90 UN-run schools operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Others had taken shelter in hospitals, churches, or with relatives near the main UN compound in Gaza City, hoping to escape the violence.
UNRWA, which serves Palestinian refugees, reported that 13 of its employees had been killed as of Friday. UNRWA urged Israel not to target its facilities and moved its international staff and central operations to a safer location.
Gaza’s health authorities reported that 1,900 people had been killed, including 40 Palestinians in a convoy hit while trying to escape to the south. The UN reported that nearly 423,000 people, roughly 20% of Gaza’s population, were displaced even before the evacuation order. Many have moved further south, and the UN warned that most residents now lack access to clean drinking water.
The UNRWA Commissioner General, Philippe Lazzarini, described Gaza as a “hell hole” that is on the verge of collapse. The unfolding humanitarian crisis is alarming in scale and speed.
As Israel responds to the Hamas attack with force and defense, it has vowed to “wipe Hamas off the face of the Earth.” With preparations for a ground offensive, Israel has amassed 300,000 reservists. The situation is complicated by the fact that scores of hostages are at risk, potentially leading to a humanitarian catastrophe for Palestinians.
Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the US and EU, rejected Israel’s calls for Gaza residents to leave their homes. The group often operates within densely populated areas, making it challenging to avoid civilian casualties, even with prior warnings.
Yousef Hammash, an advocacy officer and documentary-maker, mentioned that entire blocks in Gaza had been reduced to rubble. Many families sought refuge in churches, schools, and hospitals, while others sought safety in better-off neighborhoods. Still, destruction was widespread.
The Al-Shifa medical complex has become a magnet for those unable to find shelter elsewhere. Displaced Palestinians have filled the hospital grounds and nearby areas.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is intensifying, and residents face dire conditions, with no clear path to safety.
