Terrifying Escape: Gaza Strip Becomes Death Route as Israeli Soldiers Fire on Fleeing Palestinian Civilians
Palestinian civilians in Gaza Strip fleeing combat, facing dangers and obstacles as they try to escape Israeli tanks and airstrikes. The situation remains dire for displaced individuals, with limited access to resources and ongoing violence.
Gaza Strip, a once-bustling thoroughfare, has now become a terrifying escape route for Palestinian civilians fleeing combat. Many are forced to travel on foot or on donkey carts, as they wave white flags and raise their hands in an attempt to avoid Israeli tanks along the four-lane highway. Reports indicate that Israeli soldiers have fired at these civilians, with bodies strewn alongside the road. The Gaza Strip has been encircled by Israeli ground forces, supported by relentless airstrikes, which have cut the strip in half and aimed to drive Palestinians from the northern region.
The army has been urging civilians to move south, providing brief windows for safe passage. However, tens of thousands of civilians have remained in the north, seeking shelter in hospitals or United Nations facilities. Overcrowding in the south, along with dwindling water and food supplies and continued Israeli airstrikes in supposed safe areas, have deterred many from making the treacherous journey. Health Ministry spokesperson, Ashraf al-Qidra, has dismissed Israeli offers of safe passage as "death corridors," claiming that bodies have lined the road for days.
Al-Qidra has called for the International Committee of the Red Cross to accompany local ambulances in retrieving the dead. Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has echoed the army's claims, stating that Hamas is using civilians as human shields and preventing them from leaving the war zone. Despite this, thousands of civilians have followed the army's orders and moved south during brief evacuation windows. However, thousands have also returned to their homes in the north due to ongoing bombardment and the lack of shelters in the south.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees reports that more than 530,000 people are sheltering in its facilities in southern Gaza, and it is now unable to accommodate new arrivals. Many displaced individuals are seeking safety by sleeping in the streets near UN shelters. The four-week war has displaced over 1.5 million people across Gaza, according to UN figures. The situation remains dire for civilians, with limited access to essential resources and continuous violence.
