The ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, has turned Al-Zahraa City into a disaster zone, displacing over 10,000 residents and destroying nearly 2,000 housing units. According to a statement released by the Al-Zahraa Municipality on Thursday, the assault has seen the demolition of more than 50 residential towers, including the iconic Housing Towers, Prisoners' Towers, and Dar Misr, alongside cooperative buildings, villas, and other vital structures.

The municipality headquarters itself was reduced to rubble, with the mayor and several employees assassinated during the attacks. Dozens of residents, both within the city and in areas where they sought refuge, have been killed or injured. Critical infrastructure, including water wells, sewage networks, and educational institutions such as Palestine University, Al-Isra University, and Gaza University, has been obliterated. Six government schools, a private school, and a facility for the visually impaired have also been destroyed, leaving the city’s future in ruins.

Healthcare and public services have not been spared. Al-Wafa Hospital for Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy, which housed a nursing home and the Al-Zahraa Governmental Clinic, was demolished. The Civil Defense headquarters, the Palace of Justice, and the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility building were also targeted, crippling the city’s ability to function. The municipality condemned these actions as part of a "war of extermination," aimed at displacing residents and erasing the city’s landmarks.

The economic lifeline of Al-Zahraa has been severed, with commercial establishments, tourist areas along the shoreline, the archaeological site of Tell Al-Sakan, and the Palestine Bank destroyed. The municipality described the situation as a "crime against humanity," accusing Israel of violating international law and the Geneva Conventions. It called on the international community, UN organizations, and human rights institutions to hold Israel accountable and end its policies of destruction.

In a desperate appeal, the municipality urged supportive nations, municipalities, and organizations to provide immediate aid to the displaced residents, who are now homeless and in dire need of shelter, food, and basic necessities. It also emphasized the urgent need to rebuild the city’s infrastructure and restore its municipal capabilities, warning that without international intervention, Al-Zahraa faces a bleak and uncertain future.