Israel intensifies Gaza Metropolis bombardment, forcing households to flee

[ad_1] Rushdi Abualouf Gaza correspondent and

Dearbail Jordan

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/d417/live/d19fb240-909b-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/d417/live/d19fb240-909b-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d417/live/d19fb240-909b-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/d417/live/d19fb240-909b-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/d417/live/d19fb240-909b-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/d417/live/d19fb240-909b-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/d417/live/d19fb240-909b-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d417/live/d19fb240-909b-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters Smoke billows from an evacuated UNRWA school following Israeli airstrikes, at al-Shati (Beach) refugee camp, in Gaza City, September 13" class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> Reuters Israeli air strikes hit Seaside camp in western Gaza Metropolis on Sunday

Israeli forces have stepped up their assault on Gaza Metropolis with a wave of heavy air strikes, marking a pointy escalation from earlier navy operations.

Not like earlier phases of the battle, the present offensive has relied closely on aerial bombardments, with whole condo blocks and enormous concrete buildings decreased to rubble.

The intensification of strikes in latest days has triggered a surge in civilian displacement.

Israel has warned all residents of Gaza Metropolis to go away instantly in anticipation of an enormous floor offensive.

On Sunday, the Israeli Protection Forces (IDF) mentioned about 250,000 folks had left the town and moved south. It additionally mentioned it had destroyed a high-rise constructing that it mentioned had been used "to advance and execute terrorist assaults" in opposition to its troops.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the town is Hamas's final main stronghold. However the plan to occupy Gaza Metropolis has introduced worldwide criticism.

The UN has warned an intensification of the offensive on an space the place a famine has already been declared will push civilians into an "even deeper disaster". Gaza Metropolis is the most important city centre within the territory and a historic coronary heart of Palestinian political and social life.

Residents say the Israeli navy has been focusing on faculties and makeshift shelters, usually issuing warnings solely moments earlier than bombardments.

Many households have been pressured to flee in darkness towards western Gaza.

"We escaped sure loss of life, my husband, our three youngsters and I," mentioned Saly Tafeesh, a mom sheltering within the metropolis. "My brother died in my arms after being shot by a quadcopter drone. We ran at the hours of darkness to the west of Gaza."

The Israeli navy has advised residents to evacuate to the south of the territory - however many households say they can not afford the journey, which prices as much as $1,100 (£800). Hamas, in the meantime, has intensified its requires residents to remain put and resist leaving the town.

Rubein Khaled, a father-of-nine making ready to maneuver south, expressed frustration.

"The Hamas preacher at Friday prayers accused anybody leaving Gaza Metropolis of being a coward operating from the battlefield," he mentioned.

"However why would not he inform Hamas leaders to give up and launch the Israeli hostages so this battle can cease? We do not wish to depart both, however we have now no alternative."

Israeli forces haven't but reached some japanese neighbourhoods which have remained largely intact since earlier raids in January, however the present marketing campaign suggests they could now be searching for to dismantle whole districts.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/7a8f/live/8e9bd5f0-90a0-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/7a8f/live/8e9bd5f0-90a0-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7a8f/live/8e9bd5f0-90a0-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/7a8f/live/8e9bd5f0-90a0-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/7a8f/live/8e9bd5f0-90a0-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/7a8f/live/8e9bd5f0-90a0-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/7a8f/live/8e9bd5f0-90a0-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7a8f/live/8e9bd5f0-90a0-11f0-9501-e11accb9a258.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters Palestinians leaving the northern Gaza strip move south in the central Gaza Strip, 13 sept" class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> Reuters About quarter of 1,000,000 folks have left Gaza Metropolis, the Israeli navy says

In the meantime, a Qatari overseas ministry spokesman strongly criticised Israel's prime minister in an interview with the BBC following this week's Israeli strike on Hamas officers within the Qatari capital Doha.

Overseas Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari advised the BBC that the worldwide neighborhood had "to take care of a Netanyahu downside".

"He isn't any person who's listening to anyone proper now, who's listening to any motive, and we have now to collectively cease him in his tracks," the official mentioned.

He argued the strike in Doha confirmed the Israeli chief "by no means meant to signal any peace deal" to finish the battle in Gaza and as an alternative "believes he can re-shape the Center East in his personal picture".

5 of the group's members and a Qatari safety officer have been killed in Tuesday's strike - although the Palestinian armed group claimed no senior leaders had been killed. Hamas members had been in Doha to debate the newest US proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel has confronted widespread condemnation, including at the UN Security Council . Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned Israel focused the "terrorist masterminds" behind the 7 October 2023 Hamas assault on Israel.

Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani earlier mentioned that Qatar didn't get advance warning of the strike, solely receiving a name from a US official 10 minutes after the assault had began.

On Friday, al-Thani had dinner with US President Donald Trump and his envoy Steve Witkoff in New York, having earlier met Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the White Home.

Rubio is travelling to Israel this weekend in a present of solidarity with Israel forward of a UN assembly later this month at which France and the UK are anticipated to formally recognise a Palestinian state.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/ce59/live/ca0e5770-90a0-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/ce59/live/ca0e5770-90a0-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ce59/live/ca0e5770-90a0-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/ce59/live/ca0e5770-90a0-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/ce59/live/ca0e5770-90a0-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/ce59/live/ca0e5770-90a0-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/ce59/live/ca0e5770-90a0-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ce59/live/ca0e5770-90a0-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters scene of the Israeli strike in Doha" class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> Reuters The Israeli assault in Doha focused Hamas officers discussing the newest US proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza

On Sunday, the Hamas-run well being ministry in Gaza mentioned the our bodies of 47 folks killed by the Israeli navy had arrived at its hospitals over the day prior to this.

Since UN-backed world meals safety consultants confirmed a famine in Gaza Metropolis on 22 August, the ministry has reported that at the very least 142 folks have died from hunger and malnutrition throughout the territory. Israel has mentioned it's increasing its efforts to facilitate assist deliveries and has disputed the well being ministry's figures on malnutrition-related deaths.

The Israeli navy launched its marketing campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 folks have been killed and 251 others have been taken hostage.