Gaza Strip - October 06, 2024

Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip were once again forced to flee their homes amid Israeli attacks in a tragic scene that has repeatedly played out since the latest round of conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out one year ago.

Israel launched intense airstrikes across northern Gaza on Sunday, just one day before the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israeli towns near Gaza in October 2023. Local residents described the intense airstrikes as the heaviest bombardment since the conflict broke out.

The Gaza Civil Defense said in a statement that dozens of people were killed or wounded and trapped under the rubble of homes hit in the Israeli attacks.

The strikes focused on areas east of Jabalia, Tel al-Zaatar, and near the Indonesia Hospital, according to the Civil Defense, which added that its crews were overwhelmed by the number of homes targeted overnight.

After the Israeli attacks, roads leading to the western and southern regions of Gaza City were congested with displaced Palestinians, who packed whatever they could and drove cars or rode donkey carts, with some on bicycles or even fleeing on foot from their once familiar homes. For many, it was not the first time fleeing from air strikes in the past year alone.

However, some residents chose to remain in Gaza City despite evacuation orders as they believe that there are no safe places in Gaza.

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza from the ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 41,870, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Sunday.

Shotlist:
Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Oct 6, 2024:
1. Various of displaced people fleeing on road strewn with rubble, children on street;
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) displaced resident (name not given) (partially overlaid with shots 3):
"Following the distribution of leaflets by the Israeli military on Sunday morning, we hurried to flee. This is the third time that our entire family was forced to experience displacement. How much longer will this situation persist? It's a catastrophe. All Gazans are fleeing and enduring this hardship. We walked from Jabalia to here, and we have to keep walking. Our car broke down just as we set off, so we have been pushing it all along the way.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
3. Various of displaced people fleeing on road strewn with rubble;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
4. Various of displaced people fleeing on road strewn with rubble;
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) displaced resident (name not given) (starting with shot 4):
"I will not go to southern Gaza. Even if I die in Gaza City, I will die on my own land. People who have fled there have informed us that they are still suffering freezing temperatures in their tents there and are still being bombarded by airstrikes and artillery shelling.";
6. Various of displaced people fleeing on road strewn with rubble.

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