Media: Over 300,000 Palestinians flee Gaza City

More than 300,000 Palestinians have left Gaza City to other parts of the enclave, according to new estimates from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Tens of thousands reportedly left the area in the past 24 hours alone.

The evacuation follows an Israeli order last week for all residents of Gaza City to leave immediately, ahead of a planned military offensive targeting Hamas, Caliber.Az reports via The Times of Israel. 

Around one million Palestinians were estimated to be residing in Gaza City before the IDF began to prepare for its major offensive.

Civilians have been instructed to move south toward an Israeli-designated humanitarian zone within the Gaza Strip.

In the past 24 hours, at least 68 Palestinians were killed and 346 others wounded in Israeli strikes, primarily in the northern part of Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry. The strikes also destroyed at least two multi-storey buildings in Gaza City, including one belonging to the Islamic University that was sheltering displaced individuals.

The Israeli military confirmed it had targeted two high-rise buildings, claiming they were being used by Hamas for intelligence and surveillance purposes.

Israel has declared its intention to take control of Gaza City as part of efforts to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of nearly 50 hostages still held by the group.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Jerusalem on September 14, visiting the Western Wall alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two are scheduled to hold talks during the visit.

According to Gaza's health authorities, more than 64,000 people have been killed in the territory since Israeli operations began in October 2023. Much of Gaza has been devastated, with famine conditions spreading across the region.

By Sabina Mammadli