Gaza Strip, [Date] — The United Nations has disclosed that more than 260,000 people in the Gaza Strip have been compelled to abandon their homes as relentless Israeli attacks continue to pummel the Palestinian enclave from air, land, and sea. This wave of violence stems from a surprise assault by Hamas on Saturday, which prompted a retaliatory bombing campaign by Israel.
The UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, released an update on Tuesday, indicating that “over 263,934 people in Gaza are believed to have fled their homes” due to the ongoing conflict. This number is anticipated to rise further. Additionally, OCHA pointed out that approximately 3,000 individuals had already been displaced “due to previous escalations” prior to the recent conflict.
The human toll of this crisis is staggering, with “more than 1,000 people killed in Israel, marking the worst attack in the country’s 75-year history.” Gaza officials, on the other hand, have reported approximately 900 casualties since the onset of the airstrikes.
The extensive bombing campaign has wreaked havoc on Gaza’s infrastructure, destroying over 1,000 housing units and rendering 560 of them uninhabitable, according to Palestinian authorities, as cited by OCHA.
Among the displaced, nearly 175,500 people have sought refuge in 88 schools administered by the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. An additional 14,500 individuals have taken shelter in 12 government schools, while close to 74,000 are estimated to be residing with relatives, neighbors, or in churches and other facilities.
OCHA has noted that the current number of displaced people in Gaza “represents the highest number since the 50-day escalation of hostilities in 2014.” As the conflict rages on, providing basic necessities to those who have not been displaced is becoming increasingly challenging.
Israel has imposed what it describes as a “complete siege” on the already blockaded Gaza Strip, further cutting off access to food, water, fuel, and electricity. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that this move will exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in the region.