Why Palestinians aren't fleeing Gaza during Israel's bombardment

Israel has urged Palestinians to evacuate northern Gaza as it fights to destroy Hamas, but lots of Palestinians are staying put

Gaza City residents flee south
Gaza City residents evacuating south
(Image credit: Mohammed Abed / AFP via Getty Images)

Israel's military has cut the Gaza Strip into northern and southern halves as it surrounds Gaza City and other northern parts of the Palestinian enclave in its campaign to destroy Hamas. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continue to bomb dense urban areas in northern Gaza — apparent airstrikes hit the Al Maghazi community early Sunday and the IDF flattened part of another former refugee camp, Jabaliya, on Oct. 31, killing dozens of civilians and wounding hundreds, according to the Gazan Health Ministry.

The health ministry, part of Gaza's Hamas-led government, said more than 10,000 Palestinians have died since Israel launched its war in response to Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on civilians in southern Israel. The World Health Organization said Sunday that between bomb damage and dire shortages of fuel and supplies, 14 Gaza hospitals are no longer operating. Israel says Hamas has built underground command centers beneath hospitals as part of its strategy of hiding behind civilians.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.