The desperate exodus of civilians from northern Gaza should now take place during "humanitarian pauses," announced the White House on Thursday, November 9. Lines of men, women and children are now fleeing to the south of the enclave on foot, carrying only a few personal belongings with them.
Amid the ruins of their neighborhoods, destroyed by Israeli air strikes and artillery, they followed the corridor opened for a few hours each day since Sunday by the army on the Gaza Strip's main artery, Salah al-Din. They are trying to escape the bombardments in which 10,800 people have been killed in a month, including 4,400 children, according to Thursday's figures from the Ministry of Health in the Hamas-run enclave. In the early days, only a few thousand people attempted the crossing. Since Wednesday, that number has risen to around 50,000 people a day.
The United States wanted this forced exodus to be formally defined by a four-hour daily truce, which would also allow the delivery of humanitarian aid. The principle was accepted by Israel, but only half-heartedly. On Thursday evening, Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Hecht, spokesperson for the Israeli army, clarified that the measure did not, at this stage, concern the whole of northern Gaza. "These are tactical, local pauses for humanitarian aid," he said.
Outside the areas covered by these "pauses," intensive bombardment continues, both in the northern zone, which Israeli forces are calling on the population to leave, and at various points in the south of the enclave. The bulk of the strikes are concentrated in the north, where the Israeli army is deployed. The army is now engaged in fighting in Gaza City, where members of the 162nd division announced on Thursday that they had conquered Hamas's "military quarter," a structure considered central by the Israeli army.
The army spokesperson said that Ibrahim Abou Maghsid, head of Hamas's anti-tank weapons unit, had been killed in the fighting. According to Hecht, 50 fighters from the Islamist group were also killed in "heavy fighting."
Gaza City is Hamas's stronghold, with its above-ground facilities such as the "military quarter," which includes weapons workshops and intelligence facilities, as well as its underground facilities. The central hub of the armed group's network of tunnels is located in this area.
On Fox News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted on his categorical refusal of a ceasefire, deeming it a "surrender" to Hamas. "I think the Israeli army is performing exceptionally well," he added.
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