GAZA CITY, Palestine: More than 1 million Palestinians, including over 350,000 children, remain in Gaza City and its northern districts, refusing to evacuate to the south despite ongoing Israeli attacks, Anadolu Agency reported, citing the Gaza Media Office.
The office said Israel has forced more than 800,000 people into the al-Mawasi area, which it described as lacking necessities for survival.
“More than one million Palestinians, including over 350,000 children, remain in Gaza City and the north, steadfast in their land, homes, and properties, and rejecting outright the scheme of forced displacement to the south,” the office said.
Forced Displacement and Reverse Movement
Anadolu Agency reported that monitoring teams have observed displaced residents returning from the south to Gaza City after finding the temporary shelters in al-Mawasi and Rafah inadequate. About 68,000 people were moved south under bombardment and threats, but more than 20,000 returned by Thursday due to insufficient food, water, electricity, and shelter.
“The designated shelter zones cover less than 12% of the enclave’s total area, and Israel has attempted to cram more than 1.7 million people into it,” the office said. It added that al-Mawasi has been bombed over 109 times, causing more than 2,000 deaths, and lacks hospitals, infrastructure, or basic services.
Calls for Urgent International Action
The Gaza Media Office urged the UN, international courts, and the global community to intervene immediately. “Act urgently to stop these crimes, hold occupation leaders accountable, and guarantee the right of Palestinian civilians to remain on their land in safety and dignity,” it said.
According to the news agency, Israel approved a plan on August 8 proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to gradually occupy Gaza, beginning with forced displacement from Gaza City, encircling the city, and launching further incursions into residential areas.
Despite the attacks, most Palestinians continue to move within Gaza City, seeking relatively safer neighborhoods rather than leaving the city entirely. The Israeli military campaign has killed more than 64,700 Palestinians since October 2023 and has left Gaza facing widespread famine.
