Israel has unleashed some of its heaviest bombardments on Gaza City since the war began two years ago, intensifying its campaign to push civilians toward the already overcrowded southern region of the enclave. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, issued a stark warning on Friday, telling residents that the army would soon employ “unprecedented force” against Gaza City. He urged civilians to evacuate using the al-Rashid coastal road — now the only permitted route for escape — and to “take this opportunity and join the hundreds of thousands” who have already fled southward. The latest wave of strikes marks a dangerous escalation in a conflict that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced much of Gaza’s population. Humanitarian groups warn that forcing more residents into the south, where conditions are dire and infrastructure is stretched to the breaking point, will worsen the already catastrophic situation. Gaza City, once home to more than half a million people, has been devastated by months of bombardment and ground operations. Despite Israel’s repeated evacuation orders, many civilians remain trapped — either unwilling to abandon their homes or unable to undertake the perilous journey. International observers have raised concerns that the intensified military offensive could further complicate fragile mediation efforts. Calls are mounting for a ceasefire and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to allow the safe movement of civilians and the delivery of aid. With al-Rashid road now the only escape route and Israel warning of unprecedented force, Gaza’s residents face a grim choice: remain under relentless bombardment or risk everything in a desperate flight south.
Israel Launches Fiercest Strikes on Gaza City, Urges Civilians to Flee South
