Renewed Israeli shelling and a wave of displacement grip Gaza City as protests across Israel demand hostage releases
More Palestinian families continued evacuating Gaza City on Tuesday after a night marked by intense Israeli shelling along the outskirts, while Israelis held nationwide protests urging the release of hostages and an end to the war in Gaza.
Residents reported ongoing aerial and tank fire through the night and into Tuesday in the eastern suburbs of Sabra, Shejaia, and Tuffah, as well as Jabalia to the north, tearing through roads and homes. The Israeli military said its forces are operating in the area to locate weapons and destroy tunnels used by militants. Despite domestic protests and international condemnation, Israel appears poised to press a new offensive in Gaza City, calling it a move to strike Hamas in its claimed last stronghold.
Casualties and humanitarian impact continued to mount. Strikes at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza on Monday killed at least 20 people, including journalists working for Reuters, the Associated Press, and Al Jazeera, among others. Local health authorities reported at least 34 people killed in Israeli strikes overnight and on Tuesday, with 18 of those deaths occurring near Gaza City. The enclave’s two million residents are heavily concentrated in Gaza City, where thousands have already moved westward toward the heart of the city and along the coast, while others have headed south to central Gaza and toward the Al-Muwasi area near Khan Younis.
The attack on Nasser hospital in Khan Younis on Monday also claimed the life of Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters cameraman who was near a live broadcasting position operated by Reuters. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed deep regret over what he described as a tragic mishap, though the military has not yet provided additional details of the incident.
What this means on the ground remains dire for civilians. The health ministry in Gaza has repeatedly warned of the toll on civilians amid ongoing bombardment, with hospitals and clinics under strain from limited supplies and continuous demand for medical care. The displacing of residents has intensified, with many seeking safety in shelters, schools, and unofficial collective centers far from home.
International response and broader context. Protests across Israel reflect broad concern about the war’s human cost and the fate of hostages, while international partners urge restraint and emphasize access for humanitarian aid. Amid the mounting casualties, diplomacy continues to struggle to reconcile demands for hostages’ release, security guarantees, and humanitarian access. Some reports have floated ideas such as humanitarian arrangements designed to protect civilians and enable aid, though concrete progress remains uncertain.
What to watch next. Key questions include whether military operations will intensify in Gaza City, the trajectory of hostage negotiations, and the scope of any humanitarian pauses or corridors to bring relief to civilians. Humanitarian groups warn that without safe, reliable aid delivery and protection for medical workers, civilian suffering will deepen.
Bottom line. The latest round of strikes and displacement underscores the fragile and dangerous reality facing Gaza’s residents, even as families cling to hope for safety and a path toward peace. The coming days will likely reveal whether diplomatic efforts can translate into a tangible reduction in violence and improved humanitarian access, or whether fighting will push civilians deeper into peril.
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