Approximately 500,000 people in Gaza City are trapped in an area of less than 8 square kilometers. Israel has threatened Palestinians to flee to the southern areas of the Gaza Strip, where each square kilometer would be crowded with about 70,000 people. “There isn’t even space to set up a single tent, and tens of thousands of families will be left homeless on the streets.”

Famine has already spread, with displaced people moving from Gaza City to the central and southern parts of the Gaza Strip. There is an urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and for humanitarian aid to be allowed in.

On August 22, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) announced in a report that “famine has already occurred in Gaza City” and predicted that famine would “spread to areas such as Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September.”

Gaza City

Gaza City is a coastal metropolis in the Palestinian territories with a history stretching back over 3,000 years, making it one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. It has been a strategic hub for numerous civilizations, including the Egyptians, Philistines, Romans, and Ottomans. Today, it is a major urban center in the Gaza Strip, known for its deep cultural heritage but also for being the site of significant contemporary conflict and a severe humanitarian crisis.

Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip is a small coastal territory on the Mediterranean Sea that has been a strategically significant crossroads for centuries, ruled by various empires. In the 20th century, it came under Egyptian administration after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and was subsequently occupied by Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War. Today, it is home to over two million Palestinians and is governed by the Hamas political party, remaining a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Deir al-Balah

Deir al-Balah is a city in the central Gaza Strip whose name means “Monastery of the Date Palm.” Historically, it was the site of a Crusader fortress and a monastery, from which it derives its name. The area is also known for its ancient archaeological findings, including Egyptian and Canaanite artifacts.

Khan Younis

Khan Younis is a major city in the southern Gaza Strip, historically known for its strategic location on ancient trade routes. It was founded in the 14th century by Mamluk Emir Yunus al-Nawruzi, who established a caravanserai (a roadside inn for travelers) that gave the city its name, which means “Caravanserai of Yunus.” The city has been a significant regional center for centuries and has more recently been a focal point of conflict in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.