Civilians flee Gaza City as Israeli forces press into the city

The offensive comes as a ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar faces a decision while Israel weighs a broader invasion.

Civilians flee Gaza City as Israeli forces press into the city

Thousands have fled parts of Gaza City in recent days as airstrikes and advancing Israeli troops reshape the battlefield. New satellite imagery shows entire tent camps in southeast Gaza City emptied between August 9 and August 17 as families sought safety from renewed attacks. By August 17, the data counted 58 military vehicles in the area, including 17 bulldozers, and at least 132 buildings were destroyed in a tight cluster around the camps. Eyewitness footage geolocated near a tent camp underscores the proximity of fighting to civilian shelters.

Eyewitnesses say Israeli tanks have made further advances into eastern Gaza City. The moves come as Hamas said it had approved a ceasefire deal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, though Israel has yet to respond. The United Nations warns that an invasion could have catastrophic consequences for the roughly one million Palestinians sheltering in the city, and leaders across Europe and the UK urge restraint.

The images crystallize a hard truth: war displaces people faster than relief can reach them. When camps disappear in days, civilians bear the heaviest price and aid networks struggle to adapt. Diplomacy is testing whether mediators can frame a credible pause that protects civilians before more lives are lost. The outcome will shape regional trust and the feasibility of humanitarian corridors.

The timing matters. A ceasefire proposal exists, but the ground reality may push toward a broader operation. Observers say the international community must insist on verifiable protections for civilians and prompt aid access if diplomacy is to have any chance of reducing harm.

Highlights

Diplomacy must keep pace with events on the ground