A City Under Siege

The situation in Gaza City is rapidly deteriorating⁤ as Israel’s military offensive enters a critical phase.⁤ Around one million Palestinians remain in the city, despite the Israeli army characterizing it as a stronghold of Hamas, the group responsible for the October 7, 2023 attacks that ignited the current⁤ conflict. The ‍United Nations Secretary-General has urgently appealed for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages, warning of “massive death and‍ destruction” should ⁤the operation against Gaza City escalate.

Escalating Violence and “Systematic Destruction”

On August‍ 20, 2025, the Israeli military announced the beginning of the “preliminary phase” of its⁤ offensive targeting jabalya in north Gaza and Az Zaytoun in Gaza City, according to reports from the UN⁤ Human Rights ⁤Office (OHCHR). Intense attacks are focused on Jabalya Al Balad and ⁢Jabalya⁤ Al Nazla, with separate incidents reported targeting aid-seekers in the Zikim area. The OHCHR has documented continuous airstrikes, shelling, and drone bombings, including strikes on residential buildings, with reports of homes‍ being demolished using explosives.

The scale of destruction is alarming. The UN rights office warned on Wednesday that a “systematic destruction” of Gaza City ⁣has begun, with entire urban areas being “totally destroyed.” Recent attacks have been particularly devastating in the Az ⁢Zaytoun and As Sabra neighborhoods,⁤ and strikes have hit residential buildings and tents sheltering ⁤displaced people in Ash Sheikh Radwan, Ash Shujaiyeh, and Ash Shati Camp, resulting in multiple fatalities.

Residents are receiving evacuation orders via quadcopters and phone calls, but many ⁢remain trapped amidst the ongoing bombardment. Mass displacement is occurring from North Gaza⁣ and Gaza ‍city towards western parts of Gaza City,⁢ though precise figures are currently unavailable.Attacks have ‍also been reported on tents sheltering displaced people in Al Mawasi, western Khan Younis.

A Humanitarian Catastrophe Unfolds

The‍ accelerating ⁢military operation is exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation. Acute malnutrition among children in Gaza City has soared to 28.5%, ⁤meaning more than one in four young children are suffering from this life-threatening condition. UNRWA reports that children are “dying from man-made starvation.”

The situation represents a dramatic decline from earlier this year.When the ceasefire was in effect‍ in early March 2025, malnutrition rates in Gaza City were six times lower, at just 4.5%.⁢ Across the entire Gaza strip, acute malnutrition has risen‍ from 5.2% in march to nearly 16% in⁤ mid-August.

vital Services at Risk and West Bank Settlement Expansion

UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, warns that its services in‍ Gaza City are at “severe risk.” Tens of thousands of people⁤ are ⁣sheltering in UNRWA facilities, with many more relying on⁢ the agency for essential aid. The UNRWA Gaza Field Office, its largest logistics hub in northern ⁤Gaza, is particularly vulnerable. Operations in the south have been hampered by displacement orders and⁢ ongoing bombardment.

In the past month alone, UNRWA provided over 100,000 medical consultations and ⁢screened 3,500 children for malnutrition in‍ Gaza City. The agency also delivered drinking‍ water to 220,000 people,domestic water⁢ to 250,000,and cleared⁢ hundreds of‍ tons of⁢ waste. Education and ⁢protection programs continue to reach thousands, offering counseling and awareness training.

Beyond ⁤Gaza, the UN Secretary-General also condemned Israel’s recent approval of a long-shelved settlement⁢ expansion project in the occupied West Bank, stating that “all settlement construction is a violation of international law” and calling for the decision to be reversed. The planned ⁢settlement is expected to include over 3,000 ⁣houses, schools, and a clinic, effectively cutting off East Jerusalem from the occupied West Bank, territory captured during the 1967 Six-Day War.