Gaza authority rejects Israeli army claims of 600,000 Palestinians displaced

By Hamdi Yılmaz

GAZA, Palestine (AA) - A government spokesperson in Gaza on Monday rebuffed Israeli army claims that 600,000 Palestinians have been displaced due to the ongoing war with Hamas, saying that in fact just 70,000 people have been displaced from northern Gaza to the south.

"The occupation (Israeli army) continues to spread lies and allegations as part of its psychological warfare alongside its heinous military aggression against our people," Salama Marouf told a press conference.

He said, "the latest of these is what was reported by The Washington Post yesterday about a spokesperson for the Israeli army claiming the displacement of over 600,000 citizens from northern Gaza toward what they claim are 'safe areas' in the south of Gaza."

He pointed out that "Hagari (Israel Defense Forces spokesman) conveniently forgot that the so-called 'safe areas' he's talking about are being bombarded with tons of high-explosive bombs and wiping out entire residential areas, just like what is happening throughout the Gaza Strip."

Marouf said this led to "contradictions and confusion in statements and confirmed the falsehood of the occupation's claims, exposing the falseness of its narrative about the displacement of these numbers from northern Gaza."

He explained, "In contrast to the occupation's claims, estimates indicate that only about 70,000 people have been displaced from northern Gaza towards the south, and they are in 12 shelter centers."

He added, "The displaced people are suffering due to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) not providing them with any food or relief materials yet, prompting hundreds of them to return to their homes in northern Gaza yesterday and announcing the collective return of thousands more in the coming hours."

Ten days into the conflict with Palestinian group Hamas, Israeli bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip has continued, with over 1 million people – almost half the total population of Gaza – having been displaced, according to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

Gaza is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis with no electricity, while water, food, fuel, and medical supplies are running out, as civilians flee to the south following Israeli warning to evacuate northern areas.

The fighting began when Hamas on Oct. 7 initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza has risen to 2,750, including 750 children.

In Israel, 1,300 have been killed.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala in Istanbul