The humanitarian situation inside Gaza City is deteriorating rapidly as Israeli tanks and troops press their ground offensive for a third consecutive day. A UN expert who recently traveled to the region has warned that the overburdened hospitals in the region are in danger of completely collapsing, describing scenes of complete destruction and a desperate human flight.
What is the Current Situation on the Ground?
Israeli forces are advancing deeper into Gaza’s largest urban area, which was home to one million people before the recent escalation. Witnesses report tanks in the northern Sheikh Radwan and southern Tal al-Hawa neighborhoods, areas that have endured intense bombardment. The Israeli military confirms its operations are expanding, with the stated objective of dismantling Hamas infrastructure, eliminating fighters, and freeing hostages.
The reality for civilians, however, is one of perpetual danger and impossible choices. Olga Cherevko, a spokeswoman for the UN’s humanitarian office (OCHA), provided a first-hand account after a 14-hour, 29km round trip to Gaza City. “The things there, and the scenes on the way to Gaza City, are nothing short of cataclysmic,” she told the BBC, describing a constant stream of people fleeing south, often on foot with only their most basic belongings.
Why is the Humanitarian Crisis So Severe?
The crisis is layered, driven by heavy military operations, widespread displacement, and a broken aid system.
Mass Displacement: According to the UN, at least 200,000 people have left northern Gaza since the start of the current onslaught in mid-August, with 55,000 of those individuals having left just Sunday. Still, hundreds of thousands of people are stuck in Gaza City, unable to leave or too scared to do so.
Impossible Evacuation: Cherevko explained that many cannot afford the exorbitant cost of transport. Those who do make it south often find no shelter, forced to sleep on the streets. She met one family who had been walking for four days trying to find a safe place to sleep.
Collapsing Healthcare: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued dire warnings. Chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated the offensive is “forcing traumatised families into an ever-shrinking area unfit for human dignity.” He added that overwhelmed hospitals are on the brink of collapse as violence blocks the delivery of lifesaving supplies.
What is the State of Gaza’s Hospitals?
The healthcare system in Gaza is buckling under unimaginable strain. Only 17 hospitals remain partially functional for a population of 2.1 million, resulting in occupancy rates between 180% and 300%. The north, including Gaza City, is home to ten of these facilities.
In a devastating blow, al-Rantisi children’s hospital—the last specialized paediatric hospital in Gaza—was hit by three Israeli strikes on Tuesday. The attack damaged critical infrastructure and forced 40 patients to flee, while 40 others, including four children in intensive care and eight newborns, remain inside. The Israeli military has not commented on the incident.
The UN Population Fund adds that women are being forced to give birth in the streets without medical care, clean water, or sanitation.
What are the Stated Military Objectives?
The Israeli military is focused on what it calls Hamas’s “main stronghold” in Gaza City. Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, the military’s chief of staff, told troops at the start of the assault to “intensify the blows against Hamas and to decisively defeat the Gaza City brigade.” The operation’s stated goals are the return of all hostages and the dismantling of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.
This offensive comes in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.
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What is the International Response?
The ground offensive on a densely populated area where a famine was confirmed last month has drawn widespread international condemnation. Humanitarian agencies are pleading for access and a cessation of hostilities to prevent further catastrophic loss of life. Since October, Israeli attacks have killed at least 65,141 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, and 435 more have died from famine and malnutrition.
