As the conflict in Gaza persists, Palestinians displaced by Israeli bombings are seeking refuge in increasingly limited spaces. The latest wave of displacement has forced families from Gaza City’s eastern districts and parts of Khan Younis to a “humanitarian safe zone” along the Mediterranean coast, centered around the desolate Muwasi area. The conditions there are dire, with families sheltering in makeshift shacks constructed from plastic sheeting and blankets supported by sticks. They are living near sewage ponds, with scarce access to food, water, and medical assistance.
The displaced are among the millions who have fled their homes since Hamas launched a surprise cross-border attack on Oct. 7. The strike killed more than a dozen people in southern Israel, including six civilians. It sparked Israel’s massive military campaign that has pounded the coastal enclave. The Israeli military says it has shattered 18 of the militant group’s 24 battalions and eliminated much of its tunnel infrastructure.
But Gazans say the war is not going well, with Israel failing to win a clear advantage over the militants. They are also frustrated by the lack of progress in peace talks in Cairo.
The violence is the worst in Gaza in more than a decade. The war began with a rocket attack from the predominantly Sunni Muslim Gaza Strip that triggered an Israeli counterattack that has left more than 1,500 dead, mostly Palestinians. It has prompted criticism worldwide, including President Barack Obama, who called for an end to the conflict and urged both sides to make concessions.
An Israeli official said on Tuesday that the government was preparing for a long-term operation in Gaza, which could be accompanied by a withdrawal of Israeli forces from the West Bank and a ceasefire with Hamas. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, emphasized that Israel was not seeking to control the territory and that its goal was to destroy Hamas’ ability to launch attacks against Israel.
Meanwhile, scores of trucks carrying supplies for Gaza were heading toward the Rafah crossing into Egypt, the only access point to the enclave outside Israel’s borders. But there was no sign that the convoys would be able to pass through, and Egypt is calling on the international community to pressure Israel and Hamas for a halt to the fighting.
