{"id":16723,"date":"2025-09-18T23:06:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T03:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/?p=16723"},"modified":"2025-09-18T23:06:19","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T03:06:19","slug":"gazans-ask-does-anyone-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/gazans-ask-does-anyone-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Gazans Ask: \u2018Does Anyone Care?\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians along the coastal road to the southern Gaza Strip has been chaotic. Families fleeing Gaza City carry what little they can on their backs, while others abandon belongings mid-journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Israeli Defence Forces (I.D.F.) issued a widescale evacuation order on 9 September, instructing the one million residents of the city to move immediately to the southern part of the strip, ahead of their military advancement on the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About 400,000 residents had fled Gaza City by 17 September, according to I.D.F. estimates. The evacuation, which until 17 September took place along the only viable route, the coastal Rashid Street, known locally as \u201cSea Road,\u201d unfolded under bombardment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported more than 620 people were killed across the strip since the evacuation order was issued, and that hospitals were operating at nearly double their capacity. Staff at Al-Aqsa Hospital said the situation was critical. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Most evacuees from Gaza City opt to travel to the southern \u201chumanitarian area\u201d of the Gaza Strip using the overcrowded coastal road, fearing the proximity of the second route that was opened on 17 September to Israeli forces. (photo: Diaa Ostaz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The majority of Palestinians evacuating Gaza City did so by foot, taking with them whatever they could carry. (photo: Diaa Ostaz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Palestinians carry their most valuable possessions as they evacuate Gaza City to the south along the coastal Rashid Street. (photo: Diaa Ostaz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Palestinians of all ages evacuate Gaza City, after the I.D.F. issues an evacuation order and warns of its pending military invasion of the city in search of Hamas militants. (photo: Diaa Ostaz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Israel\u2019s general evacuation order of Gaza City on 9 September causes an estimated 400,000 Palestinians to flee to the southern Gaza Strip, already overcrowded with internally displaced people who are facing famine and lack of proper shelter. (photo: Diaa Ostaz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Despite the insecurity in Gaza City, hundreds of thousands remain, unable to leave either due to the prohibitive cost of transportation \u2014 more than $1,500 per family \u2014 or to the lack of space to shelter in the already overwhelmed southern Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The I.D.F. opened another route, Salah al-Din Road, for 48 hours on 17 September to facilitate the displacement south, but most evacuees preferred the overcrowded coastal road, fearing the new route\u2019s proximity to Israeli forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoes anyone care? Does anyone care?\u201d asks Remas al-Kafarna, 16, evacuating along the coastal road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese events should have ignited the world\u2019s anger, but they pass like a shadow on a phone screen,\u201d she said. \u201cIf we burn, they don\u2019t care. If we die, their lives go on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis world is a pit of hypocrisy. Humanity gave up its last breath here,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khalil Hassanin was walking from Sheikh Radwan, about two miles northwest of the center of Gaza City. \u201cI don\u2019t have money for transportation,\u201d he said. \u201cThe road is really difficult. We can barely move with all the luggage on our shoulders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Hassanin said he had lived in a tent with his family in a refugee camp, until the Israeli military \u201cdropped incendiary phosphorus bombs on us, so I was forced to take my children and leave.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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