Anticipating the Exodus of a Million Gazans According to Israel's Predictions for a Fresh Offensive
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, the past week has seen a significant rise in tension and casualties.
On Wednesday, Gaza's civil defense agency reported that Israeli forces killed at least 62 people across the territory. This tragic event follows Israel's retaliatory offensive, which, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, has claimed the lives of at least 63,746 Palestinians, most of them civilians, since the beginning of the conflict.
The violence has also led to mass displacement. Nearly two million people in Gaza have been displaced at least once during nearly two years of war. Israel's military estimates that an imminent offensive on Gaza City would displace one million Palestinians, while a senior official from COGAT expects "a million people" to flee south.
The conflict has taken a personal toll on many families. Umm Abd Abu Al-Jubain, a Gaza resident, lost her daughter, son-in-law, and several other relatives in a strike on Gaza City. Her grandson survived a strike but was found "in pieces" under the rubble.
Humanitarian concerns have also been raised. The coastal area of Al-Mawasi, which was previously designated a humanitarian zone by Israel, has been repeatedly struck, leaving Palestinians with little or no access to essential services and supplies, according to the UN. In response, the COGAT official announced a planned "humanitarian area" would be set up, extending from a cluster of refugee camps in central Gaza to the southern area of Al-Mawasi and eastwards.
Amidst the violence, there have been calls for peace. Hundreds of Israeli protestors called for a truce and hostage release deal in Jerusalem. Nira Sharabi, a widow whose husband was killed in captivity, called for an end to the war, stating that military pressure endangers the lives of hostages and jeopardizes the possibility of bringing back the dead for burial.
In a positive development, Hamas has accepted a new truce proposal that includes phased hostage release, but Israel has yet to respond formally. A group of mediators involving the USA, Qatar, and Egypt proposed this ceasefire agreement in August 2023.
The latest incident in Jerusalem has been described as a "red line" by the police, with Justice Minister Yariv Levin denouncing "terror" on the part of the demonstrators. However, the call for peace continues to resonate, as both sides seek a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
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