Israeli tanks pushed deeper into Gaza City on Wednesday, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ramp up their fight against Hamas fighters in the crowded urban area. The move comes amid intense shelling and evacuation orders, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians caught in the crossfire.
The IDF opened a temporary escape route along Salahudin Road for 48 hours, urging civilians to head south to safer zones. But many residents are digging in their heels, refusing to leave homes they’ve already fled multiple times during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. “Even if we want to leave Gaza City, is there any guarantee we could come back? Will the war ever end?” one local school teacher named Ahmed told Reuters. “That’s why I prefer to die here, in my neighborhood.”
Armored vehicles now surround central and western parts of Gaza City, where about 600,000 people still live. Israeli officials warn it could take months to dismantle Hamas’s last battalion there, and they expect around 100,000 civilians to stay put amid the heavy battles. So far, roughly 400,000—about 40% of the city’s population—have evacuated since early August.
The escalation hit hard on Wednesday, with bombings striking a key children’s hospital. No deaths were reported in that attack, but it forced young patients and families with cancer, kidney issues, and other serious conditions to flee outdoors. “This is the only specialist facility for these gravely ill kids, but even they aren’t spared from the relentless bombardment,” said Fikr Shalltoot, Gaza director for the UK-based Medical Aid for Palestinians charity, speaking to Reuters. The Israeli military hasn’t commented on the hospital strike yet.
Overall, at least 40 people died in Wednesday’s clashes, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. These figures don’t separate civilians from fighters. Just a day earlier, an airstrike killed five people on an evacuation route, highlighting the dangers even for those trying to escape.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists this push into Gaza City is crucial to crush Hamas remnants and push for the release of 48 hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war. Israel says the operation could pause if a ceasefire deal emerges, but hopes for talks dimmed after an IDF strike last week targeted Hamas negotiators in Qatar.
Palestinian and UN officials stress that no spot in the Gaza Strip feels truly safe, even in so-called humanitarian zones. As tanks roll in and families weigh their options, the human cost of the Gaza conflict keeps mounting, leaving many wondering when—or if—peace will return.
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