One roar after another, Gaza’s night became a hell of fire and rubble. The streets full of dust, the gutted buildings, the families on the run with a few bags tight to the chest: so a new chapter of the war opened. “This could be their last night,” shouting the relatives of the hostages, while trying to stop the invasion under Netanyahu’s house.
On the night between Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 September the Israeli army started a massive invasion of Gaza City. The operation was conducted with planes, drones, missiles and helicopters, while tank and special bodies advanced to the center of the city, where, according to intelligence, many of the hostages would be hidden.
“This operation is only the beginning,” the Israeli military leaders explained. US President Donald Trump warned Hamas: “You don’t use hostages as human shields or everything will be possible”. A warning followed by the thanks of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for “the unshakable support”.
Meanwhile, the families of the hostages protested in front of the home of the Israeli Prime Minister to block the advance, fearing that their loved ones remain trapped under the bombs.
According to the data released by the IDF at 8:32 am on Tuesday 16 September, over 350,000 Palestinians have already left Gaza City, about a quarter of the resident population. Thousands of people fled overnight, driven by the new wave of aerial bombings.
A defense source, cited by Times of Israelhe underlined that the number of displaced people is destined to grow with the advance of the Earth’s offensive, whose stated goal is the conquest of the city. Before the attack, it was estimated that about one million Palestinians lived in Gaza City.
