On Monday (21 July), Israeli forces launched a coordinated ground and air assault on Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, causing a new wave of displacement among Palestinians. The assault began shortly after the military issued evacuation warnings to residents of six blocks in the city’s southwestern section, an area already sheltering thousands of displaced people from Rafah and Khan Younis.
Local sources reported that Israeli tanks and military vehicles entered the city via the Kisufim checkpoint under the cover of intense artillery shelling and airstrikes. Dozens of shells were fired into the Abu al-‘Ajin and Hikr al-Jami’ neighborhoods as the ground forces advanced. Footage circulating on social media showed flashes of explosions and sounds of sustained gunfire, indicating heavy combat in the area.
In response to the offensive, thousands of residents fled Deir al-Balah overnight toward the coastal area of al-Mawasi, near Khan Younis. Al-Mawasi has become one of the few remaining safe zones in southern Gaza, now hosting an overwhelming number of displaced families seeking refuge from repeated attacks across the Strip.
There are growing concerns that Israel may be planning to establish a new military corridor in central Gaza, effectively isolating Deir al-Balah from surrounding regions. If confirmed, this would mark the creation of a third Israeli military axis, following similar corridors constructed in southern Gaza City (Netzarim) and Rafah (Morag), further fragmenting the Gaza Strip.
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Israeli assault on Deir al Balah forces mass exodus as new military corridor emerges
