Palestinians flee Gaza after Israel declares war on Hamas

Palestinians fleeing the north walk along the Salaheddine road in the Zeitoun district on the southern outskirts of Gaza City on November 26, 2023. Israel faces mounting pressure to extend a four-day pause in its war against Hamas, but military officials fear that a longer truce risks blunting its efforts to rout the Islamist movement.

Palestinians who had taken refuge in temporary shelters return to their homes in eastern Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip during the first hours of a four-day truce in the battles between Israel and Hamas militants, on November 24, 2023. A four-day truce in the Israel-Hamas war began on November 24, with hostages set to be released in exchange for prisoners in the first major reprieve in seven weeks of war that have claimed thousands of lives.

People carry their belongings as Palestinians who had taken refuge in temporary shelters return to their homes in eastern Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip during the first hours of a four-day truce in the battles between Israel and Hamas militants, on November 24, 2023. A four-day truce in the Israel-Hamas war began on November 24, with hostages set to be released in exchange for prisoners in the first major reprieve in seven weeks of war that have claimed thousands of lives.

Palestinians fleeing the north through the Salaheddine road in the Zeitoun district on the southern outskirts of Gaza City, walk past Israeli army tanks on November 24, 2023, following a four-day ceasefire that began early in the morning.

Internally displaced Palestinians who fled the northern Gaza Strip keep warm by a fire at a school where they are sheltering in Khan Yunis on the southern Gaza strip on November 21, 2023, amid continuing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas.

Palestinians fleeing the fighting in war-torn Gaza walk on Salaheddine road in the Zeitoun district of the southern part of the Gaza Strip on November 19, 2023, as battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue.

This handout satellite picture released by Maxar Technologies on Nov. 17, 2023, shows a crowd of people fleeing toward the southern part of the Gaza Strip, gathered along the Salah Al-Din road, as battles between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants continue.

A man carries a child as Palestinians fleeing Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza walk along a road leading to the southern areas of the enclave on Nov. 18, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.

Palestinians fleeing Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza carry some belongings as they walk along a road leading to the southern areas of the enclave on Nov. 18, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.

A woman caries some belongings as Palestinians fleeing Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza walk along a road leading to the southern areas of the enclave on Nov. 18, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.

Palestinians fleeing Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza carry some belongings as they walk along a road leading to the southern areas of the enclave on Nov. 18, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.

A man carries an injured child as Palestinians fleeing Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza walk along a road leading to the southern areas of the enclave on Nov. 18, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.

Palestinians fleeing Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza raise their arms as they walk along a road leading to the southern areas of the enclave on Nov. 18, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.

Internally displaced Palestinians, who fled from the Israeli bombardment of the northern Gaza Strip and now living in a make shift shelters, walk between tents following overnight rainstorms in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 15, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. The war between Israel and Hamas has displaced almost 1.6 million Palestinians, according to UNRWA, leaving hundreds of thousands living in cramped shelters with little food and insufficient water. More than 11,000 people have been killed in the relentless Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, since the war erupted after Palestinian militants raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing at least 1200 people, according to official Israeli figures.

A Palestinian vendor stops with his donkey cart to sell tomatoes along a wet street following overnight rainstorms in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 15, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. Thousands of civilians, both Palestinians and Israelis, have died since Oct. 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip entered southern Israel in an unprecedented attack, triggering a war declared by Israel on Hamas with retaliatory bombings on Gaza.

An Internally displaced Palestinian family, who fled from the Israeli bombardment of the northern Gaza Strip and is now living in a makeshift shelter, air their shelter following overnight rainstorms in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 15, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. The war between Israel and Hamas has displaced almost 1.6 million Palestinians, according to UNRWA, leaving hundreds of thousands living in cramped shelters with little food and insufficient water. More than 11,000 people have been killed in relentless Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, since the war erupted after Palestinian militants raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing at least 1200 people, according to official Israeli figures.

An Internally displaced Palestinian man, who fled from the Israeli bombardment of the northern Gaza Strip and is now living in a makeshift shelter, stocks up an oven outside a tent in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 15, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. The war between Israel and Hamas has displaced almost 1.6 million Palestinians, according to UNRWA, leaving hundreds of thousands living in cramped shelters with little food and insufficient water. More than 11,000 people have been killed in relentless Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, since the war erupted after Palestinian militants raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing at least 1200 people, according to official Israeli figures.

People wait at the traveler's terminal on the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 15, 2023, as they wait to have their documents checked to cross into Egypt amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. More than 11,000 people have been killed in the relentless Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, since the war erupted after Palestinian militants raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing at least 1200 people, according to official Israeli figures.

Internally displaced Palestinian children, who fled from the Israeli bombardment of the northern Gaza Strip and are now living in makeshift shelters, light a fire to boil a kettle after overnight rainstorms in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 15, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. The war between Israel and Hamas has displaced almost 1.6 million Palestinians, according to UNRWA, leaving hundreds of thousands living in cramped shelters with little food and insufficient water. More than 11,000 people have been killed in the relentless Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, since the war erupted after Palestinian militants raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing at least 1200 people, according to official Israeli figures.

Displaced Palestinians stand in their tent and inspect the damage caused by rain on Nov. 15, 2023, in Khan Yunis, Gaza. On Nov. 15, 2023, in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Heavy fighting rages in the northern Gaza Strip as Israel encircles the area despite increasingly pressing calls for a ceasefire. Due to a lack of fuel needed to operate the generators, hospitals are deprived of electricity. Between 15,000 and 20,000 people took shelter in hospital facilities, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. The WHO, again in contact with the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, considers "the situation disastrous and perilous".

Displaced Palestinians sit by a lit fire in front of their tent and inspect the damage caused by rain on Nov. 15, 2023, in Khan Yunis, Gaza. On Nov. 15, 2023, in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Heavy fighting rages in the northern Gaza Strip as Israel encircles the area despite increasingly pressing calls for a ceasefire. Due to a lack of fuel needed to operate the generators, hospitals are deprived of electricity. Between 15,000 and 20,000 people took shelter in hospital facilities, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. The WHO, once again in contact with the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, considers "the situation disastrous and perilous."

Palestinians arrive in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 11, 2023, after fleeing their homes in Gaza City and the Northern Gaza Strip amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

Palestinians arrive in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 11, 2023, after fleeing their homes in Gaza City and the Northern Gaza Strip amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

A man sells shoes along a pavement in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 11, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. More than 10,000 people have been killed across the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, since the war erupted after Hamas militants raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing at least 1400 people.

Internally displaced Palestinian children who have fled their homes in the northern Gaza Strip due to intense Israeli military bombardment hold containers as they wait for food in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 11, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. Tens of thousands of people have fled, mainly on foot, to the south of Gaza in recent days, according to the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) -- about two-thirds of Gaza's population -- and almost 1.6 million people have been internally displaced since Oct. 7, following the war that erupted after Hamas militants raided southern Israeli on Oct. 7 killing at least 1400 people.

Palestinians families fleeing Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza towards the southern areas, walk along a road on Nov. 10, 2023 amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. Thousands of Palestinians have been fleeing heavy combat between Hamas militants and the Israeli military in Gaza City a month after Hamas, based in the Gaza Strip, entered southern Israel on October 7, in an unprecedented attack triggering a war declared by Israel on Hamas with retaliatory bombings on Gaza.

Palestinians families fleeing Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza towards the southern areas, walk along a road on Nov. 10, 2023 amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. Thousands of Palestinians have been fleeing heavy combat between Hamas militants and the Israeli military in Gaza City a month after Hamas, based in the Gaza Strip, entered southern Israel on October 7, in an unprecedented attack triggering a war declared by Israel on Hamas with retaliatory bombings on Gaza.

Palestinians families fleeing Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza towards the southern areas, walk along a road on Nov. 10, 2023 amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. Thousands of Palestinians have been fleeing heavy combat between Hamas militants and the Israeli military in Gaza City a month after Hamas, based in the Gaza Strip, entered southern Israel on October 7, in an unprecedented attack triggering a war declared by Israel on Hamas with retaliatory bombings on Gaza.

An aerial view shows Palestinian families fleeing to the southern part of the Gaza Strip along the Salah Al-Din road in the Wadi Gaza district on Nov. 10, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

Internally displaced Palestinian children from the Gaza Strip, sleep on the ground as they and others are camped in the grounds of the al-Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on November 9, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. The Israeli army said 50,000 people have fled their homes in the main battle zone of northern Gaza on November 8, a sharp increase in numbers from earlier this week, adding to the more than 1.5 million people already seeking safety in the south of the coastal strip. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on November 8, his forces were "tightening the stranglehold" around Gaza City, as they pressed an offensive launched in response to the Hamas attacks on October 7 that killed 1,400 people in Israel, mainly civilians.

Palestinians fleeing Gaza City towards the southern areas walk on a road on Nov. 8, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. Thousands of civilians, both Palestinians and Israelis, have died since Oct. 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip entered southern Israel in an unprecedented attack, triggering a war declared by Israel on Hamas with retaliatory bombings on Gaza.

A girl carries belongings on her head as Palestinians fleeing Gaza City towards the southern areas walk on a road on Nov. 8, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. Thousands of civilians, both Palestinians and Israelis, have died since Oct. 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip entered southern Israel in an unprecedented attack, triggering a war declared by Israel on Hamas with retaliatory bombings on Gaza.

Palestinians fleeing Gaza City towards the southern areas walk on a road on Nov. 8, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. Thousands of civilians, both Palestinians and Israelis, have died since Oct. 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip entered southern Israel in an unprecedented attack, triggering a war declared by Israel on Hamas with retaliatory bombings on Gaza.

Palestinians, some carrying white flags, walk on a road as they flee Gaza City towards the southern areas on Nov. 8, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. Thousands of civilians, both Palestinians and Israelis, have died since Oct. 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip entered southern Israel in an unprecedented attack, triggering a war declared by Israel on Hamas with retaliatory bombings on Gaza.

Palestinians fleeing Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza towards the southern areas ride animal-ridden carts on a road on Nov. 8, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. Thousands of civilians, both Palestinians and Israelis, have died since Oct. 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip entered southern Israel in an unprecedented attack, triggering a war declared by Israel on Hamas with retaliatory bombings on Gaza.

Palestinians fleeing Gaza City towards the southern areas walk on a road on Nov. 8, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. Thousands of civilians, both Palestinians and Israelis, have died since Oct. 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip entered southern Israel in an unprecedented attack, triggering a war declared by Israel on Hamas with retaliatory bombings on Gaza.

Palestinians fleeing Gaza City towards the southern areas walk on a road on Nov. 8, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. Thousands of civilians, both Palestinians and Israelis, have died since Oct. 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip entered southern Israel in an unprecedented attack, triggering a war declared by Israel on Hamas with retaliatory bombings on Gaza.

Palestinians on donkey carts hold up white flags trying to prevent being shot while fleeing Gaza City in the al-Rimal neighborhood, central Gaza City, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.

Palestinians flee Gaza City to the southern Gaza Strip on Salah al-Din street in Bureij, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.

A woman shows her passport as Palestinian dual nationals and foreigners wait to cross the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Nov. 7, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Irael and the militant group Hamas.

Palestinians flee Gaza City to the southern Gaza Strip on Salah al-Din street in Bureij, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.

A woman walks with two infants after crossing on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip in the northeastern North Sinai province on Nov. 6, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.

A woman carries passports and a white flag as Palestinians fleeing Gaza City towards the southern areas, walk on a road on Nov. 7, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

A woman holds-up a white T-shirt trying to prevent being shot, as Palestinians flee Gaza City to the southern Gaza Strip on Salah al-Din street in Bureij, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.

Palestinians with dual nationality register to cross into Egypt on the Gaza Strip side of the Rafah border crossing, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.

Civilians leaving the Gaza, wait as dual national Palestinians and foreigners prepare to cross the southern Rafah border point with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Nov. 3, 2023. Egypt will help evacuate "about 7,000" foreigners and dual nationals from the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, the foreign ministry said, with officials saying some 400 people were expected to cross on Nov. 2.

Civilians leaving the Gaza, have their papers checked as dual national Palestinians and foreigners prepare to cross the southern Rafah border point with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Nov. 3, 2023.

Civilians leaving the Gaza, wait as dual national Palestinians and foreigners prepare to cross the southern Rafah border point with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Nov. 3, 2023.

Citizens with foreign passports wait to travel through the Rafah crossing on November 2, 2023 in Rafah, Gaza. For the first time since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, the crossing here at the Gaza-Egyptian border opened this week to allow a small number of foreign passport holders and seriously wounded to enter Egypt. The wounded have been taken to nearby hospitals, while Egypt is also preparing a field hospital in the area.

Civilians leaving Gaza wait as dual national Palestinians and foreigners prepare to cross the Rafah border point with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip, on November 2, 2023. Egypt will help evacuate "about 7,000" foreigners and dual nationals from the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, the foreign ministry said, with officials saying some 400 people were expected to cross on November 2.

People walk through a gate to enter the Rafah border crossing to Egypt in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 1, 2023. Scores of foreign passport holders trapped in Gaza started leaving the war-torn Palestinian territory on Nov. 1 when the Rafah crossing to Egypt was opened up for the first time since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, according to AFP correspondents.

Palestinians cross to the Egyptian side of the border crossing with the Gaza Strip Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. in Rafah Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023.

Palestinians wait at the border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, in Rafah, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023.

Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt at the Rafah border crossing, on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023.

A Palestinian boy carries salvageable items amid the rubble of buildings destroyed during Israeli airstrikes in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern of Gaza Strip, on Oct. 16, 2023.

A Palestinian youth reacts as he sits on the rubble of a destroyed home following an Israeli military strike on the Rafah refugee camp, in the southern of Gaza Strip on Oct. 15, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Palestinian families flee their homes following an Israeli attack on the Rafah refugee camp, in the southern of Gaza Strip on Oct. 15, 2023.

A Palestinian boy carries his pet bird in a cage as families leave their homes following an Israeli attack on the Rafah refugee camp, in the southern of Gaza Strip on Oct. 15, 2023.

Flyers dropped by the Israeli military over Gaza City on Oct. 13, 2023 warn residents to flee "immediately" to the south. A map featured on the flyers showed an arrow pointing south across a line in the central Gaza Strip. The message signed by the Israeli military ordered residents to "evacuate public shelters in Gaza City". Some 423,000 Gazans have been displaced in recent days, 60 percent of whom are taking shelter with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

Palestinians carrying their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on Oct. 13, 2023.

A boy carries a mattress as Palestinians with their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on Oct. 13, 2023.

Palestinians with their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on Oct. 13, 2023.

A child walks away with belongings salvaged from the rubble of a building hit in an Israeli strike on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Oct. 15, 2023.

Palestinians carrying their belongings flee following the Israeli army's warning to leave their homes and move south before an expected ground offensive, in Gaza City on Oct. 13, 2023.

People carry children as they flee, following an Israeli strike on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Oct. 15, 2023.

Palestinians flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on Oct. 13, 2023.