Gaza, Aug 27 (V7N) – Following a night of intense Israeli shelling on the outskirts of Gaza City, more Palestinian families fled the area on Tuesday. Israeli aerial and tank bombardments targeted eastern suburbs including Sabra, Shejaia, and Tuffah, as well as Jabalia town to the north, destroying roads and homes.
 
Residents described the continuous attacks as “earthquakes,” designed to frighten civilians into abandoning their homes. The Israeli military stated its operations aim to locate weapons and destroy militant tunnels in the region, preparing for a new offensive targeting what it calls Hamas' last stronghold in Gaza City.
 
The recent strike on Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip killed at least 20 people, including journalists working for Reuters, the Associated Press, and Al Jazeera. Overnight and early Tuesday, at least 34 more people were reported killed in Israeli strikes, including 18 in Gaza City and surrounding areas.
 
Gaza City, home to roughly half of the enclave’s two million residents, has seen thousands displaced, with many moving westward into the city center and along the coast. Others have moved south toward central Gaza and the Al-Muwasi coastal area near Khan Younis.
 
Israeli protesters marked a “Day of Disruption” on Tuesday, blocking roads and demanding the release of hostages held by Hamas and an end to the war. Demonstrators held pictures of captives taken during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, which left some 1,200 civilians dead and 251 hostages taken.
 
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret over the Nasser Hospital strike, calling it a “tragic mishap,” though Israeli military details remain unclear.
 
Hostage families criticized the government's handling of the ongoing conflict, highlighting the urgent need to resolve the crisis. The war, now nearly two years old, has killed over 62,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and created a severe humanitarian crisis while displacing almost the entire Gaza population.
 
END/WD/AJ/