Gaza City outskirts hit as residents flee

UN warns of hunger and displacement as churches stay to aid civilians in Gaza City outskirts

Gaza City outskirts hit as residents flee amid new Israeli offensive

Night time shelling hit the eastern Gaza City suburbs of Sabra, Shejaiya, and Tuffah, and the northern town of Jabalia, triggering fresh evacuations as Israel presses a campaign described by officials as aimed at weapons and tunnel networks. Hamas run health authorities say at least 34 people were killed overnight and on Tuesday, including 18 around Gaza City. The deaths and injuries come as the security cabinet prepares to discuss Gaza operations and a hostage deal amid international protests calling for an end to the war.

UN and aid groups report rising hunger and ongoing displacement. Roughly 5,000 people have moved from northern Gaza to Deir al Balah and Khan Younis since late August, while about 8,000 have sought shelter west of Gaza City. Total displacements since the end of the ceasefire in mid March exceed 800,000. Several education centers used as shelters were attacked last week, underscoring the danger to civilians and to access for aid deliveries. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has faced setbacks as aid routes and centers come under fire, complicating relief for civilians.

Religious leaders in Gaza City say clergy and nuns will stay inside church compounds to care for those who cannot flee. They warn that leaving could be a death sentence for the vulnerable and call for an end to the war and the return of hostages. On the battlefield, Israeli forces say they are destroying tunnels and weapons caches as part of a broader effort to widen a security buffer along the central and southern border.

The crisis is testing the boundaries between civilian protection and military necessity. The decision by church leaders to remain in place highlights how civilians are often trapped by both sides of a conflict, while aid access becomes a weapon of war when corridors close and checkpoints tighten. The numbers on hunger and displacement point to a longer humanitarian emergency that could outlast any single military operation. International pressure and local fear intersect as hostage negotiations stall and aid deliveries face repeated obstacles. The situation raises the stakes for civilian lives and for global credibility as authorities grapple with the balance between security goals and immediate humanitarian needs.

Highlights

The path forward will depend on real access for aid and a renewed commitment to civilian protection