The offensive, which has been described as an attempt to completely capture the city of millions, began on Monday evening. On Tuesday's images, it was seen how the Coastal Road along the beach, the only escape route that Israel has designated as safe, was completely clogged with fleeing people. According to Israel, "over 350,000" people have already fled south.
But that still means that hundreds of thousands of civilians are left in Gaza City. And the news agency AFP reports that many of them seem to think that Israel's previous promises of "safe zones" have proven to be lies, so you might as well stay where you are.
Escape route for two days
But to facilitate escape, a route south will be opened on Wednesday, announces Israel's Arabic-speaking spokesman Avichay Adraee on X. It's about the Salah al-Din road, the thoroughfare that before the war was the main traffic connection between the northern and southern Gaza Strip. Adraee writes that the road will be open for two days, starting on Wednesday morning and until Friday.
In the past two days, over 150 targets have been bombed from the air in Gaza City, according to Israel's military. AFP's correspondent has visited a residential complex that was hit in the northern part of Gaza City.
Why do they kill children who are sleeping? says witness Abu Abd Zaquout to the news agency, and looks out over the rubble.
We have pulled out children who were blown to pieces.
More restrained line
Israel's ground forces are reported to be moving relatively cautiously at the same time. They are advancing slowly, on the orders of Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who in this way wants to reduce the risk for the hostages that the Palestinian Hamas is holding, writes the newspaper Haaretz in an analysis.
This is confirmed by Gal Hirsch, Israel's coordinator in the hostage issue.
Of course, we could have moved much faster, he says in a speech according to The Times of Israel.
But the military and intelligence are waging a cautious battle, not according to the standard methods of military violence.
Eyal Zamir is one of the Israeli leaders who previously has been critical of the plans to capture Gaza City, and has urged negotiations with the terrorist-designated movement Hamas.
