Over the past week, Gaza has witnessed yet another wave of mass displacement, as Israeli forces intensify their attacks across the besieged territory. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 172,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes in just seven days, bringing the total number of displaced individuals to approximately 610,000 since Israel broke the ceasefire on 18 March 2025.

The renewed military campaign, marked by daily bombardments and continuous evacuation orders, has pushed thousands to move repeatedly in search of safety that no longer exists. Families are being uprooted time and again, trapped in a relentless cycle of fear, loss, and survival. In the last 24 hours alone, 10,000 more have joined the swelling ranks of the displaced, many with no access to basic humanitarian aid.

Israel’s decision to expand its ground operations on 18 May 2025 signalled a clear intent to maintain control over Gaza, in defiance of international calls for de-escalation. The reality on the ground tells a grim story of systematic destruction and the collapse of any semblance of civilian life. The notion of “evacuation zones” has become meaningless as even the so-called safe areas are repeatedly targeted.

Since 7 October 2023, Palestinians in Gaza have endured unimaginable suffering. More than 175,000 people have been killed or wounded—most of them women and children. Thousands remain unaccounted for beneath the rubble. The war, fuelled by American backing and global indifference, has rendered Gaza a place of perpetual mourning. And still, the people endure, clinging to hope in the face of erasure.