61,369 killed in Israeli attacks, 212 die of 'famine'; Palestinians vow not to leave Gaza

At least 61,369 people have died in Israeli attacks, and 212 have succumbed to hunger in Gaza, yet Palestinians vow they will not leave.

The Palestinians have vowed to resist Israel’s plan to capture Gaza City—the largest city in the Gaza Strip—and forcibly displace nearly one million people in the south, even if it costs their lives. Residents are refusing to leave the city. Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have intensified their military operations.

Israel says it will take control of Gaza City, establish a new administration, and try to eliminate Hamas. NBC News reported that new satellite images show Israeli forces deploying more troops and military equipment near Gaza’s border, likely preparing for an operation in Gaza City.

According to two Israeli sources cited by CNN, Gaza City will be taken over in phases. The first phase will last two months, ending on October 7—the second anniversary of Israel’s attack. During this time, Gaza City residents will be forced to move elsewhere through various means. Aid distribution will be increased in central and southern Gaza refugee camps, coordinated with the United States, to encourage people to relocate.

An Israeli official told CNN that it may take five months to fully capture Gaza City.

So far, Israel has taken control of about 75% of the roughly 41-kilometer-long Gaza Strip. With Gaza City under control, this will increase to about 85%. This raises fears that nearly one million people may be displaced again. Thousands more Palestinians could die from the attacks and hunger.

On October 7, 2023, just hours after a Hamas attack, Israel launched a full-scale assault on Gaza. Nearly two years into this war, at least 61,369 Palestinians have been killed and over 152,850 injured. Among them, 1,793 died and many were injured while trying to collect food from Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid centers, which are supported by the US and Israel.

Turkey’s Anadolu news agency, citing Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, reported that on Saturday (August 9), at least 39 people were killed and 491 injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza. Among the dead, 21 were waiting for food aid. Additionally, 212 people—including 98 children—have died from hunger and malnutrition, including 11 deaths on Saturday.

According to Nasser Hospital, Israeli forces shot and killed at least five Palestinians near a GHF aid center north of Rafah, eight at another center, six near a center by the Netzarim Corridor in northern Gaza, and two at a center on Salah al-Din Street in southern Gaza while they were trying to bring aid.

Medical staff at Al-Awda Hospital told Qatar-based media Al Jazeera that the Israeli forces targeted civilians as well as aid seekers. After an attack north of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, five bodies and 33 injured people were brought to their hospital.

Local reports say that Israeli artillery shelled Zaytoun neighborhood in southeastern Gaza City and drone strikes hit near Al-Shaheed Mosque in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. The IDF also attacked Al-Ain and Balata refugee camps near Nablus city. In Khan Yunis, an airstrike on an apartment killed one woman and injured another.

BBC reports say Israeli military operations have devastated the Gaza Strip and brought it to the brink of famine. Nearly all of the 2.1 million residents have been displaced multiple times to temporary shelters and have suffered bombings and hunger. Israel’s security cabinet has approved five decisions to end the war: disarming Hamas, returning all hostages dead or alive, ensuring Gaza’s demilitarization, establishing Israeli security control over Gaza territory, and forming a civilian government alternative to Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.

Israel’s current plan is to forcibly move Palestinians—who have already been displaced several times—from the northern main part of the Gaza Strip to a "concentrated area" further south of Gaza City. The Israeli military already controls most areas but has yet to take full control of Gaza City and some other areas.

About one million people still live in Gaza City, the city most affected by Israeli attacks. Severe hunger and famine are killing people daily. If Israel intensifies ground and air attacks, a massive loss of life is feared. These people are already suffering and starving.

On August 7, Fox News asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Israel controlling 75% of Gaza. When asked if he wants to take full control, Netanyahu replied, "We want to."

Inside Israel, this decision has faced criticism. Tel Aviv hotelier Danny Bukvosky said, “I think this will be a death sentence for all the hostages held there. Doing this now would be a mistake.” Around 50 hostages remain in Gaza, of whom about 20 are believed to be alive.

Meanwhile, Hamas described Netanyahu’s move as a "clear coup against the negotiation process" and said Israel has approved the takeover in exchange for the remaining hostages’ lives.

Despite despair, fear, hunger, and war suffering, Gaza City residents say, “We will not leave our homeland.”

Since the start of Israeli attacks, Ahmed Hirz has been displaced at least eight times with his family. Now, he lives in Gaza City. He said, “I swear to God, I have faced death about 100 times. Now, I’d rather die here.”

Ahmed told Al Jazeera, “I will never leave this place. We have already endured hunger, suffering, torture, and a tragic situation. Our final decision is to die here.”

Rajab Khader also said, “If I die, I will die here.” He made it clear that he would never go to southern Gaza to live “like dogs or other animals on the street.” Rajab said, “We will stay with our families and loved ones in Gaza City. Israelis will get nothing but our bodies and souls here.”

Maghzoja Sada used to live in Beit Hanoun in northeastern Gaza Strip. Displaced by Israeli attacks, she now lives in Gaza City. Facing renewed threats of forced displacement by Israel, she said, “The south is not safe. Gaza City is not safe. The north is not safe. Where will we go?” She asked, “Are we supposed to throw ourselves into the sea?”