Life and Death in Gaza’s ‘Safe Zone’ Bombarded by Israel

An Israeli air strike targeted a residential building adjacent to the main medical center in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people, according to hospital authorities and witnesses.

The strike, which occurred on Wednesday, caused chaos as dust filled the streets near Nasser Hospital. People were seen running in all directions—some towards the destruction to help, and others away from it. Civil defense first responders and bystanders sifted through the debris, searching for survivors amidst the rubble.

Nasser Hospital is located in the western part of Khan Younis. The city, along with Rafah and al-Mawasi in southern Gaza, had been designated as humanitarian “safe zones” by Israel. Despite this designation, these areas have faced repeated attacks.

This week, the Israeli military issued an evacuation order for Khan Younis, affecting approximately 250,000 people, according to the United Nations. Displaced families from eastern Khan Younis have struggled to find shelter in the already overcrowded western parts of the city. The air strike on Wednesday also impacted a school-turned-shelter for displaced individuals, many of whom are living in makeshift tents.

Jalal Lafi, displaced from Rafah, described the harrowing experience: “We were sitting in this tent, three people, and we were surprised by the rubble and dust. The house was bombed without any warning, hit by two missiles in a row, one after another,” he said, his hair and clothes covered in grey soot.

Andrea De Domenico, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the occupied Palestinian territories, stated that Gaza is “the only place in the world where people cannot find a safe refuge, and can’t leave the front line.” He emphasized that even designated safe areas are not immune to bombings.

On Tuesday, an Israeli air strike killed a prominent Palestinian doctor and eight members of his extended family, just hours after they had complied with military orders to evacuate their home and move to an Israeli-designated safe zone.

The European Hospital in Khan Younis has been rendered non-operational after Israeli forces bombarded several areas, forcing medical personnel to evacuate patients and relocate remaining equipment, as reported by the Palestinian Wafa news agency. Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that only 15 out of 36 hospitals are now partially operational.

De Domenico highlighted the dire situation: “At the moment, we estimate that nine out of every 10 people in Gaza Strip have been internally displaced at least once, if not up to 10 times, unfortunately, since October.” He added that 1.9 million people have been “internally displaced multiple times.”

The flow of food and other supplies into Gaza has drastically decreased since Israel’s offensive in Rafah began two months ago, leading to widespread hunger and fears of famine.

Anwar Salman, a displaced Palestinian, expressed the despair felt by many: “It’s an unendurable life. If they want to kill us, let them do it. Let them drop a nuclear bomb and finish us. We are fed up. We are tired. We are dying every day.”

Summary in Bullet Points:

• Israeli air strike hit a residential building near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, killing at least seven people.
• Nasser Hospital is in a designated “safe zone” but has faced repeated attacks.
• Israeli military’s evacuation order for Khan Younis affected about 250,000 people.
• Displaced families struggle to find shelter in overcrowded western Khan Younis.
• Air strike also impacted a school-turned-shelter for displaced individuals.
• UN official Andrea De Domenico stated Gaza is unique in its lack of safe refuge.
• An Israeli air strike killed a prominent Palestinian doctor and eight family members in a designated safe zone.
• European Hospital in Khan Younis is non-operational due to bombardment.
• Only 15 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are partially operational.
• Nine out of every 10 people in Gaza have been internally displaced multiple times.
• Food and supply shortages have led to widespread hunger and fears of famine.
• Displaced Palestinian Anwar Salman expressed the despair and hopelessness of the situation.