As Israel’s siege on north Gaza continues, how are people coping?

Israel launched a significant attack on Beit Lahiya on Saturday, targeting residential areas. Reports from the Government Media Office confirm that at least 87 people have been either killed or are missing.

The northern part of Gaza has been under siege for over two weeks, with continuous and intense attacks targeting those who remain in the area. These assaults have resulted in numerous civilian casualties.

Key Information on the Situation in North Gaza:

What is happening in northern Gaza? Since October 6, Israel has intensified its offensive in northern Gaza, stating that its goal is to disrupt Hamas’s activities. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s spokesperson, claimed that Hamas has embedded its infrastructure within civilian areas, using shelters and hospitals as shields.

Israel has ordered civilians to evacuate large areas, including Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoon, instructing them to head south to overcrowded “humanitarian zones” in al-Mawasi. Despite these zones being declared as safe areas, they have also been targeted in attacks, prompting repeated warnings from the United Nations that nowhere in Gaza is safe.

“We feel like empty shells,” a resident from northern Gaza shared with Al Jazeera. “The bombardments around us are relentless, with no regard for the children and women inside the houses. Bodies lie in the streets, becoming food for stray dogs.”

Efforts to rescue those in northern Gaza are hindered by communication blackouts and roadblocks caused by the ongoing siege.

Recently, the Israeli army released footage showing Palestinians, including individuals in wheelchairs, being detained near the Indonesian Hospital, where many had sought shelter.

How many people are still in northern Gaza? According to UN estimates, around 400,000 people, roughly 20% of Gaza’s population, have been affected by the evacuation orders. Many are unable to escape due to the constant bombardment, sniper fire, and presence of Israeli ground troops.

On Thursday, UN human rights chief Volker Turk warned Israel that forcibly transferring a large segment of the northern Gaza population would constitute a war crime.

Analysts suggest that the evacuation orders effectively signal that those who do not, or cannot, leave are seen as military targets, turning these “evacuation areas” into dangerous zones.

What are the living conditions in northern Gaza? No food aid has entered northern Gaza since October 2, according to a recent report by the UN’s acting under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs. Supplies essential for survival are running out quickly, even as existing stocks are being distributed.

The World Food Programme reported on October 12 that the northern region was completely cut off, preventing their operations there. James Smith, an emergency doctor who recently worked in Gaza, noted that medical convoys attempting to move from the south to the north were frequently blocked by the Israeli military. He added that even UN efforts to bring aid had been largely unsuccessful, complicating efforts to evacuate the injured.

Israel, on the other hand, claims that over 9,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid have been allowed through crossings since October 1, with some supplies allegedly reaching northern areas. The Government Media Office has dismissed these statements, labeling them as false.

Casualties reported in northern Gaza: Since October 6, at least 450 people have been killed in northern Gaza, as per medical sources. Jabalia, the largest refugee camp in Gaza, has been a significant focus of the attacks, with at least 33 killed there on Friday.

Are medical services available? Currently, three hospitals—al-Awda, Indonesian, and Kamal Adwan—are partially functioning in northern Gaza, struggling to cope with the influx of patients. On Friday, Gaza’s Ministry of Health confirmed that these hospitals had been targeted during the recent Israeli operations.

The Director-General of Hospitals, Muhammad Zaqout, reported that two patients at the Indonesian Hospital died due to a power failure and a lack of medical supplies, worsened by the ongoing siege. Additionally, Israeli forces bombed the entrance of Kamal Adwan Hospital on Saturday, causing further casualties.

Despite Israeli evacuation orders, doctors at these facilities have refused to abandon their patients, choosing to stay and provide care under dire circumstances.