Remaining Gaza City residents ‘afraid of what might come next’
I’ve spoken with families here who decided to stay despite Israel’s intensifying ground invasion. They told me they’re staying because of the high cost of relocating and the fact that they have no place to go, as well as the harsh reality that nowhere in Gaza is beyond the reach of Israeli attacks.
The people remaining here are living in a completely desperate situation. They are struggling to access drinking water because most of the desalination plants have been transferred to southern Gaza.
Meanwhile, attacks are intensifying and Israeli tanks are stationed close to where we are outside al-Shifa Hospital. People are afraid of what might come next.
Smoke rises over southern Gaza City after repeated Israeli air raids
The Israeli military continues to heavily bombard the southern areas of Gaza City as its ground forces push deeper into the besieged area.
Air raids and artillery fire are being used in the relentless attacks as Israel tries to capture the main urban centre, still home to hundreds of thousands of war-weary Palestinian civilians.
People ‘trapped’ in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood
The Israeli military is stationed in three axes here in Gaza City: the northwestern axis in the Shati refugee camp and the Nassr neighbourhood; the northeastern axis by the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood; and the southern axis near Tal al-Hawa.
Significant ground assaults have taken place in Tal al-Hawa. We continue to hear artillery shelling taking place there.
Reports indicate there are many people still trapped in the city’s Sabra neighbourhood. They are stuck there because if they decide to go out, they could end up being targeted by Israeli forces. Scenes of Palestinians being targeted and residential homes flattened over residents’ heads are repeating.
Israel bombs Gaza 170 times over 24 hours
The Israeli military says its warplanes struck 170 “terrorist targets” across the Gaza Strip over the past day and will continue its attacks.
Three divisions of the army continue to advance during a ground invasion of Gaza City and its northern areas, where the Israeli military claimed Palestinian fighters were killed and a weapons warehouse was destroyed, without providing any evidence.
Seven more health facilities forced out of service in Gaza City
Seven hospitals and health facilities in besieged Gaza City have been forced to close in recent days as Israel’s ground assault and bombardment intensify.
Among those shut down are al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital and the International Eye Hospital – the only public eye care centre. Both, located in the Nassr neighbourhood of northern Gaza City, were closed after Israeli bombardment nearby, the Health Ministry said.
Al-Quds Hospital is partially operational after its oxygen station was damaged in an attack, leaving it reliant on cylinders that could run out within days, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) warned.
Other medical facilities – including al-Shifa Hospital, al-Ahli Arab Hospital, and a PRCS field hospital – are still providing limited services.
