Palestinians flee Gaza City overnight amid Israeli military operations

Displaced Palestinians fled Gaza City overnight on Thursday, moving south after Israeli forces ordered residents to evacuate. Many people were driving cars, trucks, and carts loaded with belongings, while others walked along the coastal road in central Gaza. “We are heading to sleep on the streets towards the beach, barefoot like this. We don’t know where to go,” said displaced Palestinian Yasser Saleh. The Israeli military said on Wednesday it was opening an additional route for 48 hours that Palestinians could use to leave Gaza City, as it stepped up efforts to empty the city of civilians and confront thousands of Hamas combatants.