Despite weeks of Israeli evacuation orders, relentless bombardment, and direct threats, the vast majority of Gaza’s residents have refused to leave their homes. Fewer than 10 percent of those targeted have relocated, defying expectations of a mass exodus and frustrating military plans predicated on emptying entire neighbourhoods.

Analysts describe this determination as a striking act of resilience, with communities marching through Gaza City to assert their refusal to abandon their land, even as the war continues to threaten every life. For many, staying is not a choice between safety and danger but a desperate bid to preserve their homes and dignity amid escalating violence.

Humanitarian conditions, however, are worsening rapidly. UN figures indicate that over 737,000 Palestinians have been displaced since March 2025, while nearly 90 percent of Gaza now falls under evacuation orders or designated military zones. Shelters are overcrowded, families are scattered across makeshift camps, and many remain exposed, left with little protection against the ongoing attacks. For Gaza’s civilians, the stark reality is a struggle to survive at home under bombardment or face further peril in displacement.