According to the United Nations, they have all crowded into an area that is less than one-third of Gaza’s territory, with many experiencing deadly strikes in supposedly safe areas.
The United Nations opposes the creation of safe zones in the enclave, stating that no party to a war can unilaterally declare places completely safe for civilians. Attempting to establish such zones in Gaza could lead to “unacceptable harm for civilians, including large-scale loss of life,” U.N. officials have warned.
U.N. officials have advised civilians to seek shelter in protected buildings such as schools and hospitals and have urged Israel not to strike such places. However, Israel has accused Hamas of hiding command centers in civilian structures.
The Israeli military has stated that its forces have been engaged in close-quarters combat, killing “dozens” of armed Hamas operatives and destroying weapons and infrastructure located inside or near civilian buildings. However, it is not possible to independently verify Israel’s account.
The Israeli military also announced that it had captured hundreds of people suspected of terrorism, including wanted Hamas operatives, across the Gaza Strip in a single day. Those captured were transferred to Israel for further questioning.
The recent attacks by Hamas in Israel led to retaliatory bombardment in Gaza, resulting in a high number of casualties on both sides. Amid the growing outcry over the conditions for civilians in Gaza, the Israeli government stated that it would allow “a minimal supplement of fuel” into southern Gaza to prevent a humanitarian collapse and the outbreak of epidemics.