As the Israeli forces prepare for a full-swing onslaught on northern Gaza and Gaza City, nearly ten lakh people who remain there received a four-hour window to flee to southern Gaza. Civilians, however, have chosen to remain in the north, seeking refuge in hospitals or UN facilities.
Despite Israel urging civilians to flee south and providing a four-hour window for evacuation, southern Gaza has also come under attack, resulting in the loss of at least 23 lives in Israeli airstrikes on the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah.
The Israeli military claims to be pushing deep into Gaza City, positioning tanks on the outskirts for a potential assault on the urban heartland. Throughout the conflict, civilians have been urged to move south, but many remain deterred by overcrowding, dwindling essential supplies, and ongoing airstrikes in what are supposed to be safe areas.
Health Ministry in Gaza spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra dismissed Israeli offers of safe passage as “nothing but death corridors,” emphasizing the grim reality faced by those attempting to flee.
Reports of bodies lining the road for days have heightened concerns, prompting calls for the International Committee of the Red Cross to accompany local ambulances for the retrieval of the deceased.
Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, head of the Israeli military’s southern command, declared the IDF is fighting in the heart of Gaza City, emphasizing the gravity of the military operation, while the military wing of Hamas countered, stating that its fighters are inflicting heavy losses and damage on advancing Israeli forces.
As the conflict enters its second month, there is growing international concern about the escalating humanitarian crisis. UN Human Rights Chief Volcker Turk described it as "one full month of carnage, of incessant suffering, bloodshed, destruction, outrage, and despair."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for Israel to take security responsibility for Gaza for an indefinite period, raising questions about the region's long-term stability.
Simcha Rothman, a member of Netanyahu’s far-right extremist coalition, insisted on full Israeli control and the complete demilitarization of the strip to restore security. However, White House spokesman John Kirby revealed that U.S. President Joe Biden opposes Israeli reoccupation, citing concerns about its implications for both Israel and the Israeli people.