A large wave of displacement in Gaza amid intense shelling and warnings through loudspeakers

The city of Gaza witnessed a large wave of displacement in the neighborhoods of Sheikh Radwan, Zaitoun, and Sabra on Friday, following the announcement by the Israeli army of the start of the "preparatory operation" in the center of the city.

Local sources indicated that Israeli aircraft issued calls through loudspeakers urging residents in the northern part of the city to leave their homes and head south, amid difficult conditions faced by the displaced during their movement.

Residents are suffering from severe challenges, most notably fuel shortages and rising transportation costs, in addition to overcrowding in safe areas along the western coast of the Gaza Strip, prompting some families to continue their displacement southward in search of shelter, food, and clean drinking water.

This comes at a time when Israeli forces control about half of the area of Gaza City, which is home to around one million Palestinians.

UNRWA spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna confirmed that the city is witnessing "widespread internal displacement from central Gaza towards the west," warning of the worsening humanitarian crisis as shelling continues and safe spaces are lacking.