Palestinians hold Gaza protest against Israeli forced displacement
Palestinians hold Gaza protest against Israeli forced displacement
Palestinians took to the streets of Gaza City on Monday to protest against Israeli expulsion orders aimed at clearing the war-torn city of its residents.
The rally - called the "March of Shrouds" - was organised by the national gathering of tribes and families, with the participation of medical staff.
Under the slogan of "Displacement from Gaza only towards the sky," a message that has indicated defiance even in the face of death and destruction, thousands protested what would be the largest displacement since the Nakba.
The Nakba, or catastrophe, refers to the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by Zionist militias to make way for the creation of Israel in 1948.
Protesters chanted slogans rejecting displacement and held signs reading: "We will not be displaced. Stop our extermination."
In interviews with local media, Palestinians aired out their frustrations, with one man shouting that "even if our souls are gone, we are not leaving".
Dr Muneer Alboursh, director general of the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza, stressed that they will not be expelled from their land.
"We will not leave our land under any circumstances... None of the medical personnel will to leave either, this is a decision made by the Palestinian Ministry of Health."
The demonstration came just hours after Israel issued mass expulsion orders for nearly one million Palestinians ahead of a planned ground offensive on the famine-stricken city.
Additionally, the Israeli army announced on Wednesday that it had begun disseminating expulsion orders through audio, text messages and dropping leaflets.
Residents were ordered to leave the city and head towards the so-called "humanitarian zone" of al-Mawasi, south of the Gaza Strip.
Al-Mawasi has endured relentless attacks in recent months, despite being an Israeli-designated safe zone.
Leaving is 'impossible'
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) said on Tuesday that leaving the north of Gaza is "simply impossible" for residents.
"The cost of transportation is well above US$1,000, the coastal road is barely passable, and displacement sites in the south are beyond overcrowded. Most people have already been displaced countless times. They are exhausted and out of money," it stressed.
According to Ocha, the latest wave of displacement in the blockaded Strip has reached 110,000 since mid-August.
The UN agency also noted that humanitarian operations continue to be "hindered by the intensified Israeli offensive," with protection services provided to civilians suspended as a result of attacks being in close proximity to premises.
The Monday protests coincided with ongoing bombardments across the besieged territory, particularly in Gaza City, where dozens of high-rise towers and residential blocks were flattened in recent days.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted earlier this week that the army destroyed 50 residential towers in Gaza City in just two days, saying: "This is just a prelude to the main operation."
Since dawn on Wednesday, Israeli warplanes have demolished a residential tower, more than 10 homes, and dozens of displacement tents, killing at least 40 Palestinians.
The overall death toll since Israel began its genocide in October 2023 now tops 64,656.
Five new deaths due to malnutrition were also reported on Wednesday. This brings the famine-related death toll to over 400, including 141 children.
