Gaza City in Ruins: Israeli Strikes Leave 78 Dead as Civilian Exodus Continues

Israeli air and ground assaults have devastated Gaza City, reducing vast neighbourhoods to rubble and forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee. Local officials confirmed that at least 78 Palestinians, including dozens killed while waiting for aid, died in the latest wave of attacks.

Gaza’s Civil Defence reported the Israeli army has deployed explosive robots in residential zones over the past three weeks, further escalating the destruction. The head of Gaza’s Government Media Office condemned the actions as part of a “scorched-earth policy” aimed at emptying the city.

Al Jazeera footage from Sabra and Remal districts showed children pulled from debris and apartment blocks leveled within minutes of bombardment. Correspondent Hani Mahmoud described the situation as “systematic flattening of homes with no safe refuge left.”

Since the war began, Gaza’s Health Ministry estimates over 63,400 people have been killed and 156,500 injured, the majority civilians.

Humanitarian Concerns Mount

The International Committee of the Red Cross warned that declaring Gaza City a “combat zone” makes safe evacuation “impossible,” raising fears of a mass humanitarian collapse. Relief groups say aid convoys are unable to reach the displaced due to ongoing shelling and road closures.

International media reported that additional deaths occurred near aid distribution centres, where desperate crowds were hit by strikes.

Meanwhile, Israeli officials insist operations target Hamas fighters entrenched in urban areas. However, rights organisations argue the scale of destruction and high civilian toll violate international law.

A City on the Brink

Observers warn that Gaza City may take decades to rebuild. UN estimates suggest clearing the war debris alone could take over ten years, costing billions. For now, the city’s residents face displacement, hunger, and growing uncertainty over survival.