The Israeli army announced today that more than 250,000 residents have left Gaza City and headed to other parts of the Palestinian-populated strip of the same name due to the intensification of Israeli bombings and operations in the enclave in recent weeks, Agence France-Presse reported, BTA reported.
"According to the army's estimate, more than a quarter of the one million residents of Gaza City have evacuated for reasons of their own safety," said the Israeli army's Arabic-speaking spokesman, Avihai Adraee.
Reuters reported yesterday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have intensified their strikes on Gaza City, but many local residents are still staying in their homes because they have nowhere to go. to go.
Israel has declared its intention to take full control of the city as part of its plan to destroy the radical Palestinian group "Hamas", the agency recalled.
The war in the Gaza Strip broke out on October 7, 2023, after an unprecedented cross-border attack by "Hamas" against Israeli territory. According to Israeli data, about 1,200 people were killed at that time and 251 hostages were taken captive. "Hamas" still holds 48 hostages, with about 20 of them believed to be alive, Reuters reports.
According to information from the "Hamas" Health Ministry, the victims of the subsequent Israeli offensive in the coastal territory have already exceeded 64,000.