Israeli tanks and jets pounded Gaza City, the target of a major ground offensive, on Thursday, September 18, prompting Palestinians to flee south, where the Israeli military announced the deaths of four soldiers. AFP journalists and witnesses saw a steady stream of Gazans heading south on foot, in vehicles and on donkey carts – their meagre belongings piled high.
There is artillery fire, air strikes, quadcopter and drone gunfire. The bombing never stops," said Aya Ahmed, 32, sheltering with 13 relatives in Gaza City. "The world doesn't understand what is happening. They (Israel) want us to evacuate south – but where will we live? There are no tents, no transport, no money."
Palestinians say the cost of a ride to the south has soared, in some cases topping $1,000. "The situation is indescribable – crowds everywhere, the sound of explosions, women and men crying and screaming as they walked while carrying their belongings," said Shadi Jawad, 47, describing his family's ordeal as they fled their home on Wednesday. "God, send a missile to take us out and relieve us," he said.
The offensive has sparked international outrage, with the territory already devastated by nearly two years of war and the Gaza City area gripped by a UN-declared famine. It comes ahead of a planned move by several Western countries, including France and Britain, to recognize a Palestinian state later this month at the UN. US President Donald Trump, currently on a visit to Britain, said Thursday he had a "disagreement" with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over this.
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