Gazan City Transforms into Battlefield amidst Intense Israeli Conflict within Gaza Strip
Gaza City, once a bustling urban centre and the political, cultural, and economic heart of Gaza, has been ravaged by the aftermath of the 2023 war and the ongoing military operations. The city, now marked by destruction and a worsening humanitarian crisis, remains central to the Palestinian narrative.
Al Rimal, one of the 13 neighbourhoods in Gaza city, was once the most affluent in the entire strip. It housed government buildings and the headquarters for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). However, Al Rimal was one of the first areas to be destroyed in the early days of the war, representing the erasure of a proud place where Palestinian political, cultural, and human life once flourished.
The city, home to about 700,000 people before the war, saw hundreds of thousands flee under Israeli evacuation orders at the start of the conflict. Today, most of the population of over two million Palestinians are now sheltering in Gaza city, Deir Al Balah, and the displacement camps in the southern Al Mawasi area along the coast, as Israel has largely destroyed about 75% of Gaza.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza City is dire. No humanitarian aid, including essential medicines, has been permitted into Gaza for over five months, exacerbating hunger, malnutrition, and extreme heatwaves that contribute to deaths, especially among children. The city's infrastructure, including hospitals, clean water, and electricity systems, is in a state of disrepair, with many facilities destroyed or damaged beyond repair.
The once-thriving sectors of textile manufacturing, agriculture, and artisan crafts have crumbled under siege and war, leaving the economy crippled and the people struggling to access basic goods and employment.
Israel's announced plan involves a full military takeover of Gaza City and ultimately the entire Gaza Strip. This plan, approved by the Israeli security cabinet, entails a large-scale reoccupation of the enclave. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has strongly condemned this plan, stating it violates international law and will cause further massive forced displacement, increased casualties, destruction, and potential atrocity crimes. The UN calls for an immediate halt to such military actions, urging Israel to allow unfettered humanitarian aid and to pursue peaceful resolutions.
Despite the periodic wars and the Israeli-Egyptian blockade that began after Hamas took power in 2007, Gaza City has been a stronghold of identity and resilience. Many people returned to Gaza City during a temporary ceasefire this year, hoping for a semblance of normalcy. However, the continued military assault and humanitarian blockade have made that hope seem distant.
What was once Gaza's centre of life is now its epicentre of loss. The city's population has grown significantly since the Nakba in 1948 due to the arrival of Palestinian refugees. Satellite imagery and aerial footage show entire neighbourhoods in Gaza city flattened and reduced to rubble, a stark reminder of the destruction that has befallen this once-proud city.
References:
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Gaza Strip Humanitarian Situation Report, August 2025.
- Amnesty International, Israel/Gaza: A Crisis of No Return, August 2025.
- United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Press Release: UN rights experts condemn Israel's plans for full military takeover of Gaza Strip, August 2025.
- Despite the ongoing instability in Gaza City, news sources indicate a growing population, a testament to the city's enduring resilience since the Nakba in 1948.
- The ongoing military operations have left Gaza City's economy in ruins, with sectors such as textile manufacturing, agriculture, and artisan crafts severely crippled.
- Amidst the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza City, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that no humanitarian aid, including essential medicines, has been permitted into Gaza for over five months, exacerbating the suffering of its inhabitants.
- The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights strongly condemned Israel's plan for a full military takeover of Gaza City, warning that it would violate international law and result in further massive displacement, increased casualties, destruction, and potential atrocity crimes.
- In addition to the ongoing military conflicts, crime and justice issues have also stirred up concerns, as reports of accidents and associated investigations have become more common in Gaza City, compounding its already difficult general-news landscape.
