DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip. Israel’s military has called for mass evacuations from Khan Younis, intensifying its ground offensive and bombarding targets across the Gaza Strip. The expanded operations, triggered by the expiration of a weeklong cease-fire, aim to eliminate Hamas rulers following their October 7 attack into Israel, which sparked the deadliest violence in decades.
The conflict has claimed thousands of Palestinian lives, with over three-fourths of the population displaced, and the territory’s 2.3 million people are running out of safe havens. Under mounting pressure from the United States, Israel seems determined to incapacitate Hamas before a potential new cease-fire, despite the increasing toll on civilians.
The ground offensive has left northern Gaza, including large parts of Gaza City, in ruins, pushing hundreds of thousands to seek refuge in the south. Both Israel and Egypt have rejected refugee influx, creating a dire situation for displaced Palestinians.
Reports indicate intensified fighting in central Gaza, particularly around Khan Younis, where residents heard overnight airstrikes and explosions. The military dropped leaflets urging relocation southward, leading to the evacuation of nearly two dozen neighborhoods. The main north-south highway is now labeled a “battlefield,” indicating a strategic move to cut off central Gaza from the south.
Despite evacuation orders, many Palestinians resist, feeling unsafe in designated areas repeatedly bombed. The military’s barring of those who fled the north from returning exacerbates the humanitarian crisis. The International Committee of the Red Cross president, Mirjana Spoljaric, decried the “intolerable” human suffering and called for the immediate release of hostages taken during the conflict.
As the conflict deepens, concerns grow not only about immediate safety but also about the long-term impact, rendering larger parts of Gaza uninhabitable. The international community faces increasing pressure to intervene and facilitate a return to negotiations, highlighting the urgency of finding a resolution to the ongoing crisis.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
