Thousands of families are attempting to flee Gaza City as the Israeli military confirms it has begun ground operations that are part of its large-scale assault aimed at occupying the city.
Lina al-Maghrebi, 32, a mother of three from the city's Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, told the BBC she had resisted leaving her home - despite the danger - until she received a phone call from an Israeli officer ordering her to evacuate.
I was forced to sell my jewellery to cover the cost of displacement and a tent, she said. It took us 10 hours to reach Khan Younis, and we paid 3,500 shekels (£735) for the ride. The line of cars and trucks seemed endless.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a powerful operation had been launched in Gaza City, which he described as Hamas's last major stronghold.
The Israeli military has designated the al-Rashid coastal road as the only permitted route for civilians to use to evacuate. Many have described severe congestion, endless queues of cars and trucks, and long delays, with families stranded on the roadside while airstrikes continue overhead.
The operation has drawn widespread international condemnation, including from the UN human rights chief and German foreign minister. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called the offensive utterly reckless and appalling, saying it would only bring more bloodshed, kill more innocent civilians and endanger the remaining hostages.
But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to offer tacit support for Israel's operation during a press conference with Netanyahu, expressing that the US preferred a negotiated end to the war, though sometimes it’s not possible with groups like Hamas.
Israel's ramped-up offensive comes as a United Nations report claims that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a claim the Israeli government has categorically rejected.
Nivin Imad al-Din, 38, a mother of five, said she fled south after Israeli warplanes dropped evacuation leaflets in her neighborhood, though her husband refused to leave their home.
I couldn't take my furniture with me because I couldn't afford the cost of a large truck, she explained. Leaving everything behind was the hardest decision I've ever made.
Overnight into Tuesday, Israeli warplanes carried out a wave of heavy airstrikes across Gaza City, with concentrated bombardment on the central al-Daraj neighborhood, the Beach refugee camp in the west, and Sheikh Radwan in the north.
The attacks were accompanied by artillery fire, drone fire, and helicopter gunship activity.
The Israel Defense Forces said it was gradually moving into Gaza City as part of the next phase of its offensive.
Residents described the overnight strikes as hell. Ghazi al-Aloul, a displaced resident, shared he was now sleeping at the entrance of al-Quds Hospital in Tel al-Hawa after leaving the home where his family had sheltered for nearly a month.
He noted, The bombardment has been insane for hours, and the army is threatening to demolish several residential buildings in the area.
