The Israeli military has intensified its attacks on Gaza City, killing at least 78 people across the besieged enclave, including 32 aid seekers.

The assault has forced nearly one million Palestinians to face forcible displacement, with many struggling to find safety. Ismail al-Thawabta, director of Gaza’s Government Media Office, condemned the Israeli army’s use of “explosive robots” in residential areas, calling it a “scorched-earth policy” that has destroyed homes and endangered lives.

“We are seeing the systematic demolition of homes. There is hardly any fighting going on, but heavy artillery and bulldozers are moving from one street to the other, destroying all of these residential clusters,” said by Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City.

The destruction is turning parts of the city into “fields of rubble”, with many residents unable to flee due to the lack of safety anywhere.

The Israeli military’s offensive has also taken a toll on journalists, with Islam Abed, a journalist for Al-Quds Al-Youm TV channel, killed in an Israeli attack on Gaza City.

The Government Media Office reported that the number of martyred journalists has risen to 247 since the war began, with other tallies putting the number of journalists and media workers killed at over 270.

Many residents in Gaza City are opting to stay put despite Israel declaring it a “combat zone”. Fedaa Hamad, displaced from Beit Hanoon, said, “We are tired from the first displacement.

Where are we going to go? Is there a place in the south? We cannot find it.” Akram Mzini, a resident of Gaza City, echoed similar sentiments, “Life is difficult, so we will stay in our home, and whatever God wants will happen.”

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with the United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declaring a state of famine in Gaza this month.

Cindy McCain, World Food Programme chief, warned that Israel’s offensive to seize Gaza City will further impede humanitarian aid, limiting the amount of food people have access to.

In response to the crisis, the Global Sumud Flotilla has set sail from Spain’s Barcelona with humanitarian aid and activists on board, aiming to break the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory by sea.

The international community has expressed concern over the situation, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemning the arrest of UN personnel by the Houthis in Yemen and demanding their immediate release.

The US and Western support have been vital in Israel’s war, raising questions about potential legal complicity in the Gaza genocide.