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 neighbourhood 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 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.Nivin Imad al-Din, 38, a mother of five, said she fled south after Israeli warplanes dropped evacuation leaflets in her neighbourhood, 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.”The cost of displacement has surged far beyond the reach of most households. Residents said renting a small truck now costs around 3,000 shekels (£630), while a tent for five people sells for about 4,000 shekels (£840). With most families deprived of income since the war began, some are forced to walk for miles or remain in the …
