TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Israeli forces have escalated their attacks in Gaza City, the most densely populated area in the Gaza Strip. The systematic assaults have resulted in the destruction of residential buildings belonging to Palestinian citizens. This includes schools that have been converted into shelters managed by the United Nations (UN), and has claimed the lives of at least 49 people.
With the casualties in Gaza City, the total number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Saturday has reached 62.
"The residents of Gaza City are now living in extremely difficult conditions due to the ongoing siege and bombing," said Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defense, to Al Jazeera.
More than 6,000 civilians have been displaced due to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Saturday, while Tel Aviv continues its attacks to occupy the city, revealed the Gaza Civil Defense.
"More than 6,000 civilians lost their homes in a single day after their houses were targeted today," Basal added as reported by Anadolu.
Basal stated that the attacks on these homes were carried out without prior warning, resulting in the deaths of dozens of civilians.
"The residents of Gaza City are now living in extremely difficult conditions due to the ongoing siege and continuous bombing," he said.
Basal warned that more than one million people, including thousands of children, are at risk of losing their lives "due to Israel's current policies."
According to the Gaza Government Media Office, nearly 1.3 million people reside in Gaza City, who have been forced by Israel to evacuate to Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, where 800,000 people live without basic necessities.
Since August 11, the Israeli army has destroyed a total of 1,600 towers and residential buildings in Gaza City, in addition to 13,000 tents, resulting in more than 100,000 people being displaced, according to the media office.
Most of the residents of Gaza City have now crowded the western areas, which have been the target of concentrated and intense Israeli bombardments since Friday.
Israeli forces have launched rapid successive attacks in Gaza City, according to eyewitnesses, in an attempt to clear the city center of occupants.
They distributed leaflets warning Palestinian residents, who are hungry and scared, to flee for their safety.
Hani Mahmoud from Al Jazeera, reporting from Gaza City, stated that Israeli fighter jets drop bombs "every 10 to 15 minutes" on residential buildings and public facilities, often failing to give people enough time to seek refuge in safety.
"The pace and pattern of the attacks indicate one thing: the Israeli army is deliberately putting extreme pressure on densely populated areas with refugee families," he said, adding that refugees are now concentrated on the western side of the city.
However, he added that despite the military bombardment, many residents are still staying or even returning after attempting to travel south to the overcrowded and resource-deprived Al-Mawasi camp, a place frequently targeted by Israel.
Approximately 900,000 people still remain in Gaza City.
Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya, the head of al-Shifa Hospital, stated that inhabitants are moving from the east to the west of Gaza City, but "only a small number have managed to reach the south."
"Even those who have managed to flee to the south often cannot find housing, as the al-Mawasi area is already overcrowded and Deir el-Balah is also too densely populated," said Abu Salmiya, adding that many have returned to Gaza City after failing to find shelter or basic services.
The Israeli military claims that over 250,000 people have left the largest city center in the enclave.
Reverse Displacement
Reporting from the south, Hind Khoudary from Al Jazeera witnessed a continuous flow of families from the north to the al-Mawasi camp, believing that they would find "water, cleanliness - everything advertised by the Israeli forces."
Three GHF-supported aid distribution sites are located in the al-Mawasi area, as part of Israel's strategy to lure Palestinians to the south. However, human rights groups and the government strongly condemned GHF after more than 850 people were shot around the distribution sites, according to UN data.
Faraj Ashour, a Palestinian refugee who lost his leg in an Israeli attack, told Al Jazeera that he would be "sending his 13-year-old son to his death" if he were to send him to look for food for their family.
Al-Mawasi was already overcrowded before the Israeli invasion of Gaza City, filled with Palestinian refugees fleeing from the eastern areas of Rafah and Khan Younis. However, the situation is now critical, as new arrivals cannot find space to set up tents.
"I went to al-Mawasi, but the cost is too high and it's almost impossible to find a decent place without paying extra," said Ashour. "We stayed for two days. During that time, the tent next to us was bombed, even in what they call a safe zone."
After a journey from Gaza City, Ashour is now preparing with his family to return, as part of the trend of reverse displacement, where desperate people are returning north.
"There's no sense of security. It's all lies. At first, I believed them, but I realized that it's better to return to Gaza City. If they are going to kill me, I'd rather stay in Gaza City than risk everything in al-Mawasi," he said.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, stated on Saturday that 86 percent of Gaza's territory is militarized or subject to displacement threats.
Dozens of Palestinians Killed
Most of Israel's attacks in the Gaza Strip on Saturday were focused on Gaza City, with fighter jets bombing three UN schools in the Shati refugee camp housing displaced Palestinians.
Survivors stated that the Israeli military only gave them minimal warning.
"We took our belongings and placed them outside; a few minutes later, they started bombing the school," said Fidaa al-Za'aneen. "We left with only what we were wearing. Now I sit in a tent and I have nothing for my children, no pillows, no blankets, nothing."
Over the past few weeks, the Israeli military has been systematically demolishing high-rise towers in Gaza City, repeatedly claiming that the buildings were being used by Hamas, without providing any evidence.
On Saturday, Israeli forces continued to target the high-rise towers, with Israeli Defense Minister Katz posting a video showing the Burj al-Nur tower collapsing to the ground.
Al Jazeera Arabic reported that three Israeli airstrikes targeted the public prosecutor's office building, in the southwest of Gaza City.
Several Palestinians in Gaza City were also injured after a drone attacked an outdoor dining area, which was used as a charging point for cell phones, laptops, and lights.
Outside of Gaza City, seven casualties were Palestinians who were starving while seeking aid in al-Wadi, in central Gaza.
Al Jazeera Arabic reported Israeli artillery strikes in the Bureij camp in central Gaza, which killed at least one person.
Hospital sources stated that four people died in an attack on a refugee shelter tent at the Palestine Stadium in central Gaza.
Three Palestinians were killed in an Israeli attack in the al-Amal settlement, northwest of Khan Younis.
The Palestinian Red Crescent field hospital stated that five Palestinians were injured in an Israeli drone strike on a refugee tent in Khan Younis.
The Gaza Ministry of Health stated that seven individuals, including children, died of malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of starvation victims to 420, including 145 children, since the onset of the conflict.
The ongoing Israeli war in Gaza has resulted in more than 64,800 Palestinian deaths since October 2023, and has devastated the besieged enclave, which is now facing starvation.
Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for its war in the region.
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