Thousands of Palestinians are making a grueling trek to the south, their hands filled with the few belongings they could salvage after running out of sustenance and freshwater in the north. The United Nations reported this news on Wednesday as Israel announced their soldiers were engaging with Hamas militants deep within the heart of Gaza City. Over seventy percent of Gaza’s population, totaling an astounding 2.3 million, have already abandoned their homes, but the burgeoning numbers venturing towards the south serve as a stark reminder of the intensifying desperation prevailing in and around Gaza’s largest metropolitan center, which has endured a relentless onslaught of Israeli bombardments.

The war, instigated by Hamas’ October 7th assault on Israel, has now entered its second month, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis within the beleaguered Palestinian enclave with no foreseeable end. Israel has declared that their war to topple Hamas’ regime and cripple their military capabilities will be protracted and challenging, and that they will retain some form of dominion over the coastal territory indefinitely. Public support for the war remains robust within Israel, where the spotlight has been focused on the plight of the more than 240 hostages held by Hamas and other militant organizations.