The intensity of fighting between Israel and Hamas increased significantly across the Gaza Strip on Monday, leading to fears of a breakdown in public order and a mass exodus of Palestinians to Egypt, Reuters reports.
The Palestinian region has been under a complete Israeli blockade since the conflict began more than two months ago, and the only way for civilians to leave is the border with Egypt.
Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have fled their homes, residents say it is almost impossible to find refuge in the densely populated enclave, with some 18,000 people already dead and the conflict gaining momentum.
The Israeli army has launched a ground offensive after the breakdown of a week-long truce in the south last week. Since then, warplanes have been attacking the area in the west, while troops have been advancing from the east into the centre of the large town of Khan Younis.
On Monday, residents said fighters were preventing Israeli tanks from advancing west through the town, as well as fierce clashes in northern Gaza, where Israel said its objectives had largely been met.
After fresh warnings of rocket fire from Gaza, Israelis fled to shelters including in Tel Aviv. The armed wing of Hamas said it was shelling the city in response to “Zionist massacres of civilians”. In Jabaliya in northern Gaza, Palestinians fled to escape smoke bombs fired at tents and other homes.
On Monday, Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee issued a fresh call for Gazans to evacuate Gaza City and other areas in the north, as well as Khan Younis in the south. It said, urging civilians to leave for their own safety:
Residents of the Gaza Strip, the IDF operates forcefully against Hamas and terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, especially in the Khan Yunis area and in the north of the Strip.
UN officials say 1.9 million people – 85 per cent of Gaza’s population – are displaced, and describe conditions in the southern areas, where most of the displaced are located, as hellish. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who has unsuccessfully pushed for a ceasefire in Gaza, said Sunday that the enclave is in a state of total collapse. He told an international conference in Qatar:
I expect public order to completely break down soon and an even worse situation could unfold including epidemic diseases and increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt.
