Heavy Strikes Hit Gaza City Neighborhoods
Israeli air raids intensified in Gaza City on Saturday, with warplanes striking the Zeitoun neighborhood and surrounding areas. One attack destroyed a residential home, while shrapnel from another strike wounded a child. The bombardment marks the latest escalation in Israel’s declared plan to seize control of Gaza Bombardment City, the enclave’s largest urban center.
Local reports indicate that the attacks have forced thousands of residents to flee once again, adding to the already staggering number of displaced families. The offensive comes days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the military had been given the go-ahead to “dismantle” what he described as the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza Bombardment City and further south in al-Mawasi.
Strikes Hit Declared “Safe Zone”
Despite being designated a humanitarian or so-called “safe” zone, the tented encampment of al-Mawasi in southern Gaza was also hit by Israeli air raids. In one strike, Motasem al-Batta, his wife, and their infant daughter were killed inside their tent. The area had been set aside earlier in the war for displaced civilians, but it has repeatedly come under fire in recent months.
Human rights organizations and international observers argue that the repeated targeting of declared safe zones undermines Israel’s claims of protecting civilians and violates international humanitarian law. The pattern has heightened fears among displaced families that nowhere in Gaza can truly be considered safe.
Plans to Relocate Gaza’s Civilians South
The Israeli military has begun preparing to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza Bombardment City to southern parts of the territory. Reports suggest that equipment and temporary shelters are being moved into designated areas in preparation for a mass transfer of civilians starting Sunday. However, the army has not clarified whether these zones include Rafah, near the Egyptian border, or other parts of southern Gaza already overwhelmed by earlier waves of displacement.
The plan has raised alarm within the United Nations and among aid agencies. While Israel has framed the move as a security and humanitarian measure, critics view it as part of a broader strategy to depopulate Gaza Bombardment City through coercion and bombardment.
UN Raises Concerns Over Humanitarian Impact
The United Nations has yet to issue a formal response to Israel’s relocation plan, but officials have warned that the humanitarian toll could worsen significantly. On Thursday, UN humanitarian agencies cautioned that thousands of families, already enduring dire conditions without adequate food, water, or medical care, could be “pushed over the edge” if large-scale displacement proceeds.
The UN has previously documented severe shortages across Gaza, with malnutrition and dehydration claiming lives even before the latest escalation. Aid deliveries remain limited, and repeated strikes on convoys and shelters have further disrupted humanitarian operations.
Palestinian Groups Condemn “Occupation Plan”
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, an ally of Hamas, issued a sharp rebuke of Israel’s latest announcement, calling it “part of its brutal attack to occupy Gaza City” and “a blatant mockery of international conventions.” Hamas and other Palestinian factions have echoed the criticism, arguing that the military campaign is designed not only to weaken armed resistance but also to permanently uproot Palestinians from their homes.
Observers note that the forcible displacement of civilians on such a scale could amount to a violation of international law, sparking debate among global legal experts and humanitarian advocates.
A Growing Political and Humanitarian Crisis
Israel’s strategy to take over Gaza City and push its population south underscores the deepening crisis in the enclave. With nearly one million people still in Gaza City, the risks of mass casualties and worsening famine loom large. Aid groups warn that forcibly moving civilians without proper shelter and resources could trigger an even greater humanitarian disaster.
As bombardments continue and relocation plans move forward, Gaza faces a future marked by intensified conflict, widespread displacement, and deepening political fallout across the region.
