IntelScoops

Gaza City, Gaza Strip — As Israel’s security cabinet approved plans for a military takeover of Gaza City, nearly one million Palestinians sheltering in the enclave’s largest city face the imminent threat of further forced displacement. The decision has plunged the city into turmoil, raising fears of widespread suffering amid an already devastating conflict.

The planned takeover includes the forcible relocation of residents into designated “concentration zones” in southern Gaza, despite many having already been displaced multiple times since the war began.

Ahmed Hirz, a resident who has been uprooted at least eight times with his family, voiced his grim resolve. “I swear to God that I have faced death like 100 times, so for me, it’s better to die here,” he said. “We have gone through suffering and starvation and torture and miserable conditions, and our final decision is to die here.”

Others shared similar sentiments of defiance. Rajab Khader declared he would refuse to move south, choosing instead to “stay in the streets with dogs and other animals.” “We must stay in Gaza [City] with our families and loved ones. The Israelis will find nothing except our bodies and our souls,” he stated.

Maghzouza Saada, herself displaced from northeastern Beit Hanoon, expressed outrage at the prospect of being forced to move again, questioning where people could possibly seek safety in the besieged territory. “The south is not safe. Gaza City is not safe, the north is not safe. Where should we go? Do we throw ourselves in the sea?” she asked.

Humanitarian groups warn that the plan risks exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis, with limited access to food, water, medical care, and shelter across Gaza. The displacement of civilians amid escalating military operations raises urgent concerns over civilian protection and the potential for further loss of life.

The unfolding situation underscores the deepening complexities and human toll of the conflict, as residents grapple with the choice between survival under siege or risking everything to remain in their homes.