Displaced Palestinians fled Gaza City overnight on Thursday (September 18), moving southwards after Israeli forces ordered residents of the city to evacuate to the south.

Displaced Palestinian mother, Zahar Kafarna, and her family took shelter in a tent on the side of the road after walking for days, not knowing where to go.

"They threw leaflets on us and told us to leave. There’s no place for me to go to. I don't have a tent or anything. As you can see we have been walking for four days. We are in the street now. No tent, no shelter, nothing," said Kafarna.

The Israeli military said on Wednesday (September 17) it was opening an additional route for 48 hours that Palestinians could use to leave Gaza City as it stepped up efforts to empty the city of civilians and confront thousands of Hamas combatants.

"There aren't any life necessities. Life here is non-existent. We are alive but not living,” added the 48-year-old mother.

Israel says the offensive to take control of Gaza City is part of a plan to defeat Palestinian militant group Hamas for good and that it has warned civilians to head south to a designated humanitarian zone.

Hundreds of thousands of people are sheltering in the city and many are reluctant to follow Israel's orders to move south because of the dangers along the way, dire conditions, a lack of food in the southern area, and fear of permanent displacement.

Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, Israeli tallies show. Israel's military assault has killed over 65,000 Palestinians, Gaza's health ministry says.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

CENTRAL GAZA, GAZA (SEPTEMBER 18, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. DISPLACED PALESTINIANS FLEEING GAZA CITY SOUTHWARD ALONG THE COASTAL ROAD/ PEOPLE IN MOVING VEHICLES WITH BELONGINGS

2. CHILDREN ON TOP OF TRUCK

3. PEOPLE AND BELONGINGS IN VEHICLES AND CARTS

4. VARIOUS OF DISPLACED PALESTINIAN MOTHER, ZAHAR KAFARNA, SITTING WITH HER CHILDREN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

5. EMPTY WATER JERRYCANS AND BOTTLE / TEAPOT

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED PALESTINIAN MOTHER, ZAHAR KAFARNA, SAYING:

"They threw leaflets on us and told us to leave. Now, there’s no place for me to go to. I don't have a tent or anything. As you can see we have been walking for four days. We are in the street now. No tent, no shelter, nothing. I ask all relevant parties to support us, help us. We are tired. We are really tired.”

7. KAFARNA AND HER FAMILY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, LIVING IN MAKESHIFT TENT

8. KAFARNA GRABBING SOME OF HER BELONGINGS

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED PALESTINIAN MOTHER, ZAHAR KAFARNA, SAYING:

"Here (showing her belongings and makeshift tent) there is no place to sleep, here in the street, on the street, sleeping on the sidewalk, in the cold and in the sand and in the sewer and the filth, there is no shelter or anything, me and these girls."

10. VARIOUS OF KAFARNA STANDING NEXT TO HER MAKESHIFT TENT AND HER FAMILY SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

11. KAFARNA PLACING BELONGINGS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED PALESTINIAN MOTHER, ZAHAR KAFARNA, SAYING:

“There aren't any life necessities. The children woke up from their sleep and I wanted to prepare them a kettle of tea, there’s no water. I want to prepare breakfast for them and there’s nothing. I want to buy them bread and it's not available. There aren't any life necessities. Life here is non-existent. We are alive but not living.”

13. VARIOUS OF KAFARNA SITTING NEXT TO HER MAKESHIFT TENT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HER FAMILY SITTING NEXT TO HER

14. KAFARNA AND HER FAMILY HEATING SOME WATER IN TEAPOT

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED PALESTINIAN MOTHER, ZAHAR KAFARNA, SAYING:

“Nothing, we left with bags with only our clothing. Our bags only. They've all been ill all night and complain of stomach cramps from the extreme cold. There’s no mattress, blanket or anything as you can see. This is our situation.”

16. KAFARNA AND HER FAMILY SITTING NEXT TO THEIR MAKESHIFT TENT AND PEOPLE WALKING

17. VARIOUS OF KAFARNA'S SON TRYING TO HEAT THE TEAPOT

18. KAFARNA'S MAKESHIFT TENT AS SEEN FROM INSIDE

19. KAFARNA GIVING BREAD TO HER FAMILY

20. VARIOUS OF KAFARNA EATING BREAD

21. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED PALESTINIAN MOTHER, ZAHAR KAFARNA, SAYING:

"(There is) no shelter, water, food, or drinks, nothing to sustain me and the girls. Enough. We hope all countries and Arab people to support us, support us, have mercy on us. Enough. Two years of war and we're in displacement.”

22. KAFARNA'S MAKESHIFT TENT PLACED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

23. VARIOUS OF CHILDREN PLACING THEIR BELONGINGS INSIDE TENT

24. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN VEHICLES, WITH BELONGINGS / CHILDREN AND PEOPLE ON TOP OF TRUCKS