Casualties after Israel bombs three homes in Gaza City
According to initial reports, there were several people inside a cluster of homes in Gaza City [part of the al-Rayas residential block Israel issued evacuation threats for] when it was bombed. The people were trying to salvage belongings from their homes when the bombs were dropped. Three homes were bombed.
Almost simultaneously, a school in the Shati refugee camp was threatened before it was bombed. People were forced to run and scramble, panicking because they had no shelter to go to.
We are seeing a significant increase in aerial attacks across Gaza City – from the north to the centre to the south – in what appears to be an attempt by the Israeli military to drive people out.
Seven more people die of malnutrition in Gaza
In its latest update, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that seven more people, including two children, have died “due to famine and malnutrition”. That brings the total number of hunger-related deaths in the enclave to 420, including 145 children, according to the ministry’s tally.
Israeli army says ‘intensifying pace’ of Gaza City attacks, orders civilians to flee
The Israeli army has warned its forces are “increasing the pace of attacks” in Gaza City and issued more threats against Palestinians, warning them to flee south.
In a post on X, the army spokesperson claimed that more than 250,000 people have already fled the city and urged those remaining to take al-Rashid Street towards al-Mawasi or camps in the centre of the enclave.
“Despite intense bombardment in Gaza City, many residents have stayed put – or returned after seeking shelter elsewhere – because many of Israel’s designated evacuation zones are desperately overcrowded and under-resourced, including lacking proper water access,” reports Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud.
Displaced Palestinians move southwards after Israeli forces ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate, on September 12
‘It’s all lies’: Al-Mawasi offers no safety to displaced Palestinians
Faraj Ashour, a displaced Palestinian who was forced to flee Gaza City with his family to the so-called “humanitarian zone”, al-Mawasi, spoke to Al Jazeera about their situation.
“If I ask my son to go and get food … I’m sending him to [his] death,” Ashour said.
“Everything the Israelis say is a lie and people believe it. People want some security, but there is none. Even in the south. I would advise people to stay on their land and die there.
“I went to al-Mawasi, but the costs were too high … and it was almost impossible to find a proper spot without paying extra. We stayed two days. During that time, the tent next to us was bombed even in what they call a safe zone,” he said.
“There was no safety. It’s all lies. At first, I believed them, but I realised it was better to return to Gaza City. If they’re going to kill me, may as well be in Gaza City, rather than risk everything in al-Mawasi. The overcrowding was unbearable,” he said.
Places of shelter, safety being destroyed one by one
It’s every 10 to 15 minutes that a bomb is dropped by a fighter jet. The vast majority of people here are now without proper shelter, in the streets, scrambling for a place to stay protected and safe, but that is eroding by the hour.
Now, as the attacks are on the rise, there are fewer shelters available. The buildings that people want shelter and safety in are being destroyed, one by one.
Israeli forces have destroyed thousands of residential towers, buildings, tents
Gaza’s Government Media Office has released a statement in which it says Israeli forces have caused “the complete destruction of more than 1,600 multi-storey residential towers and buildings, the severe destruction of more than 2,000 residential towers and buildings, and the destruction of more than 13,000 tents housing displaced persons”.
Since the start of September, Israeli forces have “destroyed and demolished 70 residential towers and buildings, severely destroyed 120 residential towers and buildings, and more than 3,500 tents”, the statement read.
In numbers: Casualties from Israeli attacks
The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza has shared the following updates:
- The overall death toll from Israeli aggression has risen to 64,803, with 164,264 people also wounded.
- The number of people killed since Israel broke the ceasefire in March stands at 12,253. Another 52,223 people have been wounded.
