Some families in Gaza City collected their belongings on Thursday and prepared to move to the southern area of the Gaza Strip ahead of Israel's planned operation in the Palestinian territory's largest city.

Hundreds of Palestinians have slowly fled their homes and shelters in Gaza’s largest city and its surroundings, as Israeli forces intensified its attacks in the area, ahead of its large offensive to retake the city announced by Netanyahu earlier this month.

Saddam Al-Yazhi is one of the many evacuating the city but have no idea to where.

”The situation is difficult. We don't know where we are going," he said. "This is the first time I'll go, and I don't know where to go."

"The army has been dropping leaflets, shells, and explosive devices," he added. "It's terrifying."

The Israeli military has intensified the strikes and pounded the eastern parts of Gaza City as well as the Jabaliya refugee camp in recent days. It has ordered residents there to move southward to areas already overwhelmed with displaced people in central Gaza and Muwasi.

Several have already arrived and setting up their tents in the central towns of Deir al-Balah and Zawaida.

Israel’s defense minister warned that Gaza City could be destroyed in a new military operation, even as famine spreads there.

Aid groups have long warned that the war, sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, and months of Israeli restrictions on food and medical supplies entering Gaza are causing starvation.

Israel has rejected the data-based famine declaration as “an outright lie.” Ceasefire efforts are on hold as mediators await Israel’s next steps.

With ground troops already active in Gaza City’s outskirts, the military operation could start within days in an area with hundreds of thousands of civilians. Israel says Gaza City is still a Hamas stronghold, with a network of militant tunnels.

United Nations and international aid groups said that such an attack could further deteriorate the already dire humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory.

Most of Gaza’s over 2 million residents have been displaced several times, most of the territory lie in ruins.

Many Israelis fear the assault on Gaza City could doom the 20 hostages who are believed to have survived since 2023. Another 30 are thought to be dead.