Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have decided to stay in their homes in northern Gaza despite Israeli warnings that they face grave danger if they don't move south.
FILE - A Palestinian man watches as others inspect the damage to destroyed houses after Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have decided to stay in their homes in northern Gaza despite Israeli warnings that they are facing grave danger if they don’t move to an evacuation zone in the southern part of the territory.
The risks for those staying in the north are likely to rise exponentially in the event of an expected Israeli ground offensive, after two-and-a-half weeks of heavy bombardments have already claimed more than 6,500 lives in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Israel says it seeks to strike Hamas and doesn’t target civilians, but Gaza health officials say many of those killed have been women and children. Those numbers are expected to climb with a ground offensive, which would likely see fierce fighting inside crowded urban areas.
Services in the north have deteriorated since Israel’s evacuation order prompted at least 700,000 Palestinians to flee south. Most homes have no electricity, water or fuel. The little fuel still available, often from private stockpiles, is sold for exorbitant prices. Some rent out small water pump motors, demanding 50 shekels an hour, a huge amount for the average Gaza resident.
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