Hundreds of people, who fled Gaza City, were moving south on Friday, seeking safety as Israel launched what it called the "initial stages" of a planned offensive in the city.

Many of those who fled in cars, pickup trucks and buses started sheltering in makeshift tents on Friday in central parts of the Gaza Strip, west of the Nuseirat refugee camp.

A large number of people who came from central Gaza were displaced more than once during the 22-month conflict, that has left more than 63,000 people dead in the Gaza Strip.

People who fled spoke about a lack of water and food and the miserable conditions they were faced with as they tried to find a tent to stay in.

"We are thrown in the streets like what would I say? Like dogs? We are not like dogs. Dogs are better than us," said Mohammed Maarouf, standing in front of what would be his tent that would shelter him and his family of nine.

Maarouf and his family were first displaced from the northern town of Beit Lahia near the border with Israel.

The U.N. said Thursday that 23,000 people had evacuated over the past week.

Israel has called Gaza City a Hamas stronghold, alleging that a network of tunnels remain in use by Hamas after several previous large-scale raids on the area.

Israel first announced plans to widen its offensive in Gaza city, where hundreds of thousands are sheltering while enduring famine. The military has in recent days ramped up strikes in neighborhoods on the city's outskirts.

The Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, 2023 when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel and abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians.