Palestinians in Gaza wonder when they should leave and where to go

Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip (AP) – Artillery and bombs slam around The biggest city in Gaza Israel’s promise New attacks to punishPalestinians in the city are paralyzed with fear – we don’t know where to go, when to leave, or if they will return.

Israel has declared Gaza city north of its territory, Become a battle zone Meanwhile, the army advances with a plan to overtake Hamas in a campaign that pushes Hamas into submission. Parts of the city are already considered “red zones,” and Palestinians are ordered to evacuate ahead of the expected fierce fighting.

It placed residents on the edge, including many who returned after fleeing the city in the early stages of the city. Israel-Hamas War. Departing the city could mean leaving forever as Israeli bulldozers destroy the ground in the occupied region and Israeli leaders support the massive relocation of Palestinians from Gaza. The travel costs to thousands of dollars, making it impossible to find spaces in the south that have become overcrowded to market tents. But staying behind could be fatal, they say.

“When the Israeli military marks every area in red and demands people leave, they’ll really destroy it,” said Mohamed Alkurdi, who has escaped Gaza city along with hundreds of thousands of other Palestinians.

“So it’s like deciding whether you’re going to live or die. It’s so easy like that.”

Impossible choices between staying and running away

Since Israel The area has been declared a combat zone. On Friday, around 14,840 Palestinians, roughly 1 million Palestinians in Gaza, left their homes into the city as of Monday, mostly to escape south, according to Site Management Cluster, a joint humanitarian agency that coordinates support for people in shelters.

Just a few of them, about 2,200, have moved to new locations in Gaza City after being chased by Israeli attacks.

Project manager and consultant Arkurdi said he could hear the Israeli army from the apartment.

Zeitoun was once the largest region in Gaza city and was packed with markets, schools and clinics. Satellite photos reviewed by the Associated Press last month between early August and early September showed that most of it and Sabra’s neighbourhoods have been flattened. The photo shows an entire block of panmerized or bulldozed into an empty, sandy lot.

“It’s not partial like it used to be. It’s 100%,” he said. “Home, I’m talking to my friends, it’s dancing all day long. It’s dancing to the right and left like an earthquake.”

Many people in the city wanted to return north during the January ceasefire and find the home as is. Alkurdi’s house had been completely destroyed, so he now lives alone in the western part of the city. His children and wife were able to leave Gaza last year. He said he would run south if his house fell under evacuation orders.

Amjad Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO network, left home to an upscale environmental district early in the war and returned with his family in January. He said, like Al Kurdi, his family would likely leave Gaza city if their area received an evacuation order.

But leaving this time is different, he said. “Gaza is leveled and destroyed. Last time I had a car. There was fuel. Everyone had his income, his money.”

At the time, the cities of Rafa and Khan Yunis still stood in southern Gaza.

Well, after months of fire, “There are no Rafa, there are few Khan Yunis,” Shawa said.

For some people, it’s almost impossible to leave

For others – healthcare workers, elderly people, sick people – It’s almost impossible to leave Gaza city.

“Elders, they say we’re going to die here,” Shawa said. “This prevented other members of the family from leaving.”

“My aunt is an elderly person, unable to walk, and my mother is struggling with mobility, and we have so many ways to manage them that we feel unthinkable.

Amal Seyam is the general director of the Women’s Affairs Centre in Gaza. Her home, originally from the Tafa district of Gaza, was destroyed by artillery fire. For almost four months, she has been evacuated to the NASR district west of the city, where she is staying with her colleagues in the Women’s Center.

Seyam has been difficult to avoid five since the war began. Rafa and Khan Eunice had difficulty avoiding three times within the city and two south. Every time, she ran away without any problems.

When asked if she would consider leaving Gaza city, she said: “I will only leave when everyone I need here leaves. As long as there are women who need me, I am staying. Gaza feels like I am in the red zone anyway.

She paused, her voice shed tears.

“Many people are starting to pack. Many are already left. Do you know what displacement means? It means moving once more, building your life again, buying new things, blankets, tents.”

The dire situation continues throughout Gaza

Those who have left Gaza city over the past few months have found disastrous situations elsewhere in Gaza. Their arrivals crowded the already overflowing tent camps and sent out prices for basic items.

Iman El-Naya, from Khan Younis, fled Gaza City three months ago. “The beaches are busy. They’re crowded everywhere. There’s no sanitation. It’s a struggle to get water and food.”

“I’m going in line with the water. Getting bread is a struggle. Everything is even more expensive after the people in the north come here.”

Shoruk Abu Aid, a pregnant woman from Gaza, was evacuated to Khan Yunis four months ago. She said the arrival of more people from the north is creating even more tragic situations.

“There’s no privacy or security. The place I walked in 5-10 minutes takes about an hour due to the crowds. There’s only 10 centimeters between the tents.”

Jamal Abu Rayleigh lamented that the bathrooms were overflowing and there was little room for a new arrival.

“How do we fit here? He asked.” Where do they stay? At the sea? ”

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Frankel reported from Jerusalem to Beirut from Abou Al-Jaud.