Israeli forces have stepped up their assault on Gaza City with a wave of heavy air strikes, marking a sharp escalation from previous military operations.
Unlike earlier phases of the war, the current offensive has relied heavily on aerial bombardments, with entire apartment blocks and large concrete structures reduced to rubble.
The intensification of strikes in recent days has triggered a surge in civilian displacement.
Israel has warned all residents of Gaza City to leave immediately in anticipation of a huge ground offensive.
On Sunday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said about 250,000 people had left the city and moved south. It also said it had destroyed a high-rise building that it claimed was used to advance and execute terrorist attacks against its troops.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the city is Hamas's last major stronghold, but this plan to occupy Gaza City has drawn widespread criticism.
The UN warns that intensifying military actions in a region already declared to be facing famine will plunge civilians into an even deeper catastrophe. Residents have reported that the Israeli military targeted schools and makeshift shelters, often providing minimal warnings before bombardments.
Saly Tafeesh, a mother seeking shelter, recounted a harrowing escape from death with her family. Similarly, many families have found themselves forced to flee towards western Gaza under cover of darkness.
While the Israeli military instructs residents to evacuate south, cost constraints hinder many from relocation, amidst escalating tension as Hamas urges civilians to remain and resist leaving.
As the death toll rises, international response intensifies with calls for diplomatic resolution and humanitarian aid.
