Israel-Palestine Escalation
Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.

Middle East Unrest: Palestinians Flee Their Homes in Face of Israeli Attacks

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On October 7, the Palestinian group Hamas carried out a surprise rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, which led to Israel declaring a state of war the following day and launching strikes in response.
Since the beginning of hostilities last week, both Israel and Palestine have reported over 1,500 deaths and thousands of injuries as a result of the escalation.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a total of 423,378 people have been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip. It was noted that about 64% of them are sheltered in 102 premises operated as designated emergency shelters by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The organization reported that 26,984 more individuals sought refuge at 29 Palestinian Authority schools. In light of this situation, OCHA asked for $294 million in humanitarian aid to address the pressing needs of 1,260,000 people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Public Works, 752 residential and nonresidential buildings, comprising 2,835 housing units, have been destroyed. Another 1,791 housing units have been damaged beyond repair and become uninhabitable.
On Monday, Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip, a region housing over 2 million people, thereby severing the supplies of water, food, and fuel. Following the development, Gaza's only power plant has exhausted its fuel supply and ceased functioning, resulting in the cessation of the sole source of electricity for the Gaza Strip.
On October 12, the Israeli military notified the United Nations that the entire population of Gaza north, or approximately 1.1 million people, and the UN staff should relocate to southern Gaza within the next 24 hours "for their own safety." The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) added that the city's population will be able to return to their homes "only when another announcement permitting it is made."
Check out Sputnik's gallery depicting the hardships faced by civilians in the Gaza Strip as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to escalate.
© AFP 2023 Mohammed Abed

Palestinians flee Gaza City following Israeli air strikes on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militants have begun a "war" against Israel which they infiltrated by air, sea and land from the blockaded Gaza Strip, Israeli officials said, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Palestinians flee Gaza City following Israeli air strikes on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militants have begun a "war" against Israel which they infiltrated by air, sea and land from the blockaded Gaza Strip, Israeli officials said, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  - Sputnik Africa
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Palestinians flee Gaza City following Israeli air strikes on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militants have begun a "war" against Israel which they infiltrated by air, sea and land from the blockaded Gaza Strip, Israeli officials said, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

© AFP 2023 Said Khatib

Women flee following an Israeli strike, as battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for the sixth consecutive day, in the city Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on October 12, 2023. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants entered Israel in a surprise attack leading Israel to declare war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip enclave on October 8.

Women flee following an Israeli strike, as battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for the sixth consecutive day, in the city Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on October 12, 2023. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants entered Israel in a surprise attack leading Israel to declare war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip enclave on October 8.  - Sputnik Africa
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Women flee following an Israeli strike, as battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for the sixth consecutive day, in the city Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on October 12, 2023. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants entered Israel in a surprise attack leading Israel to declare war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip enclave on October 8.

© AFP 2023 Mahmud Hams

A boy carries a mattres as Palestinians with their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on October 13, 2023. Israel has called for the immediate relocation of 1.1 million people in Gaza amid its massive bombardment in retaliation for Hamas's attacks, with the United Nations warning of "devastating" consequences.

A boy carries a mattres as Palestinians with their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on October 13, 2023. Israel has called for the immediate relocation of 1.1 million people in Gaza amid its massive bombardment in retaliation for Hamas's attacks, with the United Nations warning of "devastating" consequences.  - Sputnik Africa
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A boy carries a mattres as Palestinians with their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on October 13, 2023. Israel has called for the immediate relocation of 1.1 million people in Gaza amid its massive bombardment in retaliation for Hamas's attacks, with the United Nations warning of "devastating" consequences.

© AFP 2023 Mahmud Hams

Palestinians flash the V for victory sign as they flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on October 13, 2023.

Palestinians flash the V for victory sign as they flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on October 13, 2023. - Sputnik Africa
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Palestinians flash the V for victory sign as they flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on October 13, 2023.

© AFP 2023 Mohammed Abed

Palestinians carrying their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on October 13, 2023.

Palestinians carrying their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on October 13, 2023.  - Sputnik Africa
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Palestinians carrying their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on October 13, 2023.

© AFP 2023 Mahmud Hams

Palestinians with their belongings flee from their homes following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 13, 2023.

Palestinians with their belongings flee from their homes following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 13, 2023.  - Sputnik Africa
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Palestinians with their belongings flee from their homes following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 13, 2023.

© AP Photo / Hatem Ali

Palestinians leave their houses following Israeli airstrikes in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023.

Palestinians leave their houses following Israeli airstrikes in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. - Sputnik Africa
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Palestinians leave their houses following Israeli airstrikes in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023.

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