A recent Israeli airstrike near a bustling market in Gaza City tragically resulted in the deaths of almost two dozen Palestinians, as reported by the Palestinian Civil Defense rescue service.
Among the casualties were six women and nine children, with at least 22 individuals confirmed dead in the vicinity of Firas Market, located on the city’s eastern side. Reports from Wafa news agency, which is affiliated with the Palestinian Authority, indicate that all victims were non-combatants sheltering in a warehouse directly hit by the strike.
In response, the Israeli military released a statement asserting that their strike targeted ‘two Hamas terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip,’ offering no additional specifics on the individuals. They further stated that the reported number of casualties did not correspond with their intelligence, though they refrained from providing their own casualty estimates for the incident.
Israel initiated a ground invasion of Gaza City last week, citing its objective to eliminate Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, from what it considers one of its final strongholds. Hamas was responsible for the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the ongoing conflict. The Israeli military maintains that its operations are directed solely at militants and their operational infrastructure, such as weapon caches and tunnels, acknowledging that these targets are frequently situated within civilian populated areas.
The recent ground invasion of Gaza City, the largest urban center in the territory, has intensified international scrutiny and pressure on Israel. This offensive has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom are now displaced for multiple times during this conflict, exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis throughout the Gaza Strip.
Recent days have seen a surge in diplomatic frustration, with nearly a dozen nations formally recognizing a Palestinian state, a move that has drawn strong condemnation from Israeli officials.
Prior to its ground assault on Gaza City, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for the entire population—hundreds of thousands of residents—directing them to a designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza.
However, a significant number of civilians stayed behind, with some citing financial constraints preventing their departure, and others expressing deep skepticism about the safety of any supposed refuge within Gaza.
Beyond the warehouse incident, Wafa news agency also reported five additional fatalities on Wednesday from strikes in other areas of Gaza City, including four women and one man.
Furthermore, the civil defense confirmed the recovery of four bodies from the wreckage of a building in Nuseirat, central Gaza, approximately seven miles south of Gaza City, following another strike. The Israeli military has not yet commented on this specific incident in Nuseirat.
Nedal Abu Sherbi, a 37-year-old resident of Gaza City, shared his plight, stating he lacked the means to evacuate. He added that even if he could, the idea of fleeing yet again was unimaginable.
He recounted an earlier attempt to seek refuge in the south during the war, which he described as a profoundly ‘humiliating experience.’
“If I’m destined to suffer regardless, then I’ll endure it here,” expressed Mr. Abu Sherbi, a freelance journalist now residing in a school in Rimal, a neighborhood once known for its affluence, after his own home was destroyed.
He noted that while Israeli forces seemed to have ‘full control’ over numerous areas, this did not extend to his immediate vicinity. However, moving more than a few blocks from his current shelter was impossible, he explained.
“Conditions in Rimal are comparatively better than elsewhere, but airstrikes remain a constant threat,” he lamented. “The continuous bombardment makes sleeping through the night impossible.”
Prior to the evacuation directives, the United Nations estimated Gaza City’s population at nearly one million, representing approximately half of the territory’s total inhabitants. Israeli authorities report that an estimated 640,000 people have departed the city since the orders were issued.
Over recent months, extensive parts of Gaza City have been leveled by Israeli actions. Even before the commencement of the ground operation last week, the Israeli military had asserted control over 40 percent of the city, primarily its eastern sectors.
Satellite imagery analyzed by The New York Times reveals that some of these regions have been utterly devastated. For instance, the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City was reduced to a desolate wasteland within a few weeks in August, with most of its structures obliterated.
Recently, a U.N.-backed panel of food specialists declared that Gaza City was experiencing famine conditions. Concurrently, a United Nations commission investigating the conflict has alleged that Israel is perpetrating genocide against Palestinians in the area. Israel has vehemently rejected both accusations.