At least 34 Palestinians were killed in Israel’s attacks on Gaza City on Saturday, according to Gazan health authorities cited by Reuters. The outlet reported that this week, Israeli troops have been “pounding the Sheikh Radwan and Tel Al-Hawa areas,” which is where much of Gaza’s population is sheltering.
On Saturday, Dr. Rami Mhanna, the managing director of Shifa Hospital, told The Associated Press six people from the same family died after a strike hit their home. They were related to Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, the hospital’s doctor, Mhanna said. Another five people died in a strike close to Shawa Square, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.
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Israel’s military didn’t comment on the strikes in a statement to the AP, but said it is taking “feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm.”
Israeli officials have been telling Palestinians in Gaza City to move, especially as they escalate the offensive in the area. However, many have already been displaced multiple times since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, and because of famine and injuries from other attacks, they are unable to. Aid organizations have also reported deaths at what Israel has deemed “humanitarian zones.” People who have fled to these areas also describe “harsh conditions” with deteriorating infrastructure.
“We are living in such harsh conditions that even an animal couldn’t survive them,” one of them, Sylvia al-Shurafi, said to the BBC. “We thought these humanitarian areas they spoke about would have water and tents. We forced ourselves to listen to save our lives, but we’ve ended up living on the street.”
In a report from Friday, the United Nations said the journey to go south to escape the assault can cost more than $3,000 — which many cannot afford.
One man, Abu Nader Siam, said in an interview with a UN news correspondent that he and his wife walked for six hours to leave the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood as they couldn’t find any transportation.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli offensive, which followed Hamas’ incursion into the country, where militants killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostage, has killed more than 65,000 people in Gaza and displaced much of the population.
