Gaza’s civil defense agency reported a tragic escalation in violence as Israeli forces killed at least 50 people across the Palestinian territory on Friday. This grim statistic comes amid a renewed offensive against Hamas, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring his intent to “finish the job” during a resolute address at the United Nations.
The Israeli military’s offensive has been particularly concentrated in Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands have been displaced in recent weeks due to ongoing hostilities. The civil defense agency, which operates under Hamas authority, indicated that among those killed, 30 were reported in Gaza City alone since dawn.
In response to the intensifying conflict, Israel’s military asserted that its air force had targeted over 140 locations in Gaza during a single day, hitting areas associated with terrorists, tunnel infrastructure, and military assets. However, media restrictions and challenging conditions in the region hinder independent verification of casualty figures and details.
Eyewitness reports and footage from Al-Shati refugee camp illustrate the devastation wrought by airstrikes, revealing extensively damaged buildings. One poignant image showed a young girl, barefoot and searching through the rubble for personal belongings, amidst fallen utility poles and tangled cables.
In his speech, Netanyahu claimed that Israeli forces had “crushed the bulk” of Hamas’s operations and emphasized the urgency to complete the military objectives swiftly. His office stated that the military had gained access to the phones of Gaza residents and Hamas members to broadcast the address, purportedly hoping to instill a sense of urgency or fear.
However, many residents, including Randa Hanoun, a displaced Palestinian in Deir el-Balah, expressed skepticism about these broadcasts. She stated that she had not received any messages on her phone or heard the supposed loudspeakers, dismissing the claim as an attempt to instill fear. Other contributors from various locations in Gaza corroborated her account, confirming they had not heard the speech.
The ground offensive targeting Gaza City began on September 16, and since then, the military indicated that approximately 700,000 Palestinians have fled the city, with the UN humanitarian office recording 388,400 displacements since mid-August, primarily from the urban center.
Amidst this crisis, individuals like Um Youssef al-Shaer described the dire situation in temporary refugee accommodations. Living in overcrowded conditions in a tent city along the Mediterranean coast, she recounted the challenges of housing ten family members, highlighting the growing struggles faced by displaced families.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, ongoing military operations in Gaza have claimed the lives of at least 65,549 Palestinians over nearly two years, predominantly civilians—a figure regarded as reliable by the UN. The recent conflict was ignited by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, which led to the deaths of 1,219 individuals, the majority of whom were also civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli sources.
