Gaza City has plunged into chaos as Israel presses forward with a full-scale offensive that has left entire neighborhoods in ruins. What was once the bustling heart of the enclave is now a battlefield marked by smoke, destruction, and widespread fear. Residents who remain in the city describe the streets as unrecognizable, with many unable to flee further south as there is no safe refuge left.
On August 20, Israel launched Operation Gideon’s Chariots II, a military campaign aimed at seizing control of Gaza City. Tens of thousands of reservists were mobilized as tanks and troops pushed into areas like Sabra, Shuja’iyya, Zeitoun, and Jabalia, now advancing deeper into central districts. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that the city could be razed unless Hamas surrenders, a statement that has fueled fears of ethnic cleansing and potential genocide.
The humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels. Global monitors confirmed that famine has taken hold in Gaza City, with projections showing that without urgent international intervention, famine will spread to southern areas such as Deir al Balah and Khan Younis by late September. That would mean over 600,000 people—nearly one third of Gaza’s population—facing severe hunger and starvation.
Families are struggling to survive amid the fighting, shortages, and the collapse of essential services. The international community has called for humanitarian corridors and aid deliveries, but access remains limited. For civilians trapped in Gaza City, daily life has become a desperate struggle for survival as bombs continue to fall and food supplies vanish.
