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Translated by: Flutura Gashi-Mehmeti
- September 16, 2025 18:12
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Thousands of families are trying to flee Gaza City as the Israeli military has confirmed it has launched ground operations as part of its large-scale offensive aimed at capturing the city.
Lina al-Maghrebi, 32, a mother of three from the city's Sheikh Radan neighborhood, told the BBC that she had resisted leaving her home, despite the danger, until she received a call from an Israeli officer ordering her to evacuate.
"I had to sell my jewelry to cover the cost of moving and a tent," she said. "It took us 10 hours to get to Khan Younis and we paid £735 for the trip. The line of cars and trucks seemed endless," she said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a "powerful operation" had been launched in Gaza City, which he described as Hamas' last major stronghold.
The Israeli military has designated the al-Rashid coastal road as the only route allowed for civilians to evacuate. Many have described severe congestion, endless lines of cars and trucks, and long delays as airstrikes continued overhead as fleeing Palestinians.
The new Israeli operation has been widely condemned by international leaders, including the UN human rights chief and the German foreign minister.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has called the offensive "utterly reckless and appalling", saying it would "only bring more bloodshed, kill more innocent civilians and endanger the remaining hostages".
But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to offer tacit support for Israel's operation during a joint press conference with Netanyahu on Monday, saying the US preferred a negotiated end to the war but that "sometimes when you're dealing with a vicious group like Hamas, that's not possible."
Israel's increased offensive comes as a United Nations investigative commission released a report on Tuesday that says Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has categorically rejected the report.
