Israeli Offensive in Gaza: Evacuation of Shajaiye

During the initial phases of the conflict with Hamas, the Israeli forces advanced from the northern areas of the Gaza Strip towards the south, focusing their efforts on the neighborhood of Shajaiye in Gaza City. In a tragic event in December, nine Israeli soldiers lost their lives in what was deemed one of the deadliest days for the Israeli military during the war.

Following the devastation in Shajaiye and the apparent control established in Gaza City, the Israeli troops proceeded further south to Rafah, identified as one of Hamas’s key strongholds in the region. As a result, Palestinian civilians who had previously fled the conflict in Gaza City began returning to their homes.

However, the situation took a turn on Thursday when Israel issued evacuation orders for a section of eastern Gaza City due to heavy strikes and numerous casualties reported by Palestinian officials and residents. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as people scrambled to escape the area amidst the sound of explosions. The strikes were reported to have targeted Shajaiye.

Mohammad al-Bahrawi, a resident who had recently returned to Shajaiye with his family, recounted the harrowing experience of being caught in the renewed violence. He expressed disbelief at the number of people still present in the area and the urgency with which they had to flee.

The Israeli military refrained from immediate comments on the strikes, while reports from Israel’s public broadcaster suggested a ground operation was underway to dismantle Hamas’s presence in the neighborhood, following intelligence indicating a resurgence of the armed group.

This operation reflects the broader challenge faced by Israel in its efforts to eliminate Hamas, the group responsible for launching attacks on Israeli territory in October that triggered the conflict in Gaza.