'Death is here and there': Palestinians displaced again as Israel resumes bombing

With the renewed outbreak of deadly attacks on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders to a large number of Palestinians, mainly targeting residents living in towns bordering Israel in the eastern and northern Gaza Strip. This move has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis for local residents, drawing high attention from the international community, and raising concerns about potential escalation.

Ahmed Mosleh, a Palestinian resident of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, told Middle East Eye that the situation there is extremely difficult. "Since yesterday, the shooting and attacks have not stopped," he said, explaining that even before the ceasefire, the area was considered a battlefield. He further described the scene after the ceasefire, expressing his deep anxieties about what the future holds for his community.

Mosleh lamented, "When the ceasefire started, we returned home with hopes of peace, but we found our homes destroyed. So, we set up tents and tried to rebuild what we could, exhausted... but today, we face the same problem," he referred to the evacuation order. He stated that they are in a dilemma, having to either flee the area, facing displacement again, or stay in their dangerous hometown, where the imminent threat of continuous shelling and army attacks makes survival uncertain.

"We want to stay as long as possible, but if the danger gets too close to our homes, we have no choice but to protect our lives," Mosleh added. "We have already experienced displacement. We left our homes for the first time and went south. Leaving our city, our land, is incredibly painful and difficult. It's too tormenting... we have been longing to return to the north since we left."

It is reported that prior to the issuance of the evacuation order, Israel launched a fierce bombing campaign, resulting in the deaths of over 400 Palestinians, including 183 children. The attack also injured more than 600 people and was one of the bloodiest attacks Israel has launched on the Gaza Strip, effectively ending the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Multiple witnesses told Middle East Eye that the attacks also targeted "safe zones" and occurred during Suhoor (the meal eaten before the start of the fasting day).

Abu Adham Zaanin expressed fear and anxiety upon hearing the displacement orders, especially as a father of three children and an elderly mother in need of care. "We have been living in Beit Hanoun for several weeks, setting up our tents and trying to rebuild our lives, and as a result, the war has returned," he told Middle East Eye. His concern for his family prompted him to flee the area after the order was issued. "We are worried that the war will come back more intensely than before... my biggest fear is ensuring the safety of my children... How do I protect them?"

Recalling his previous experience of being displaced to the south, Zaanin described it as exhausting for him and his family, and he made it clear that he would not go south again. "Death is everywhere," he added. "I hope they can announce a full ceasefire at any time and end the genocide and suffering." Zaanin lamented that there is no joy left in Eid al-Fitr (the festival marking the end of Ramadan). "One has already lost too much - too much family, too much stuff."