Gaza City Exodus Intensifies as Israel Pushes Ground Invasion; EU Sanctions and Pope Call for Ceasefire

More than 400,000 people have fled Gaza City as Israel pushes ahead with a ground invasion of the enclave. The operation began on Tuesday as the Israeli military sought to crush what it described as the main stronghold of Hamas. Hospitals reported mounting casualties and a deepening humanitarian crisis, with food and medical supplies in short supply as airstrikes leveled high-rise buildings. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, a finding Israel rejected as baseless.

Despite the exodus, hundreds of thousands remain in Gaza City, deterred by fears of overcrowding in the south, the high cost of transportation, and concern about the disruption to health services. Overnight strikes killed at least 16 people, hospital officials said, including damage to Gaza Citys al-Rantisi hospital for children. The figures underscore the peril facing civilians as the ground operation continues.

The Israeli military has ordered civilians to move south to a designated humanitarian zone, but many families are still on the move along the coast road. An additional evacuation corridor via Salah al-Din has opened and will operate for 48 hours starting at noon local time on Wednesday, offering an alternative path out of the northern enclave.

In Brussels, the European Commission announced a broad package of measures aimed at pressuring Israel to end the war. The plan includes tariffs on select Israeli goods and sanctions targeting 10 Hamas leaders, as well as two members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet — national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich — and asset freezes for individuals tied to the sanctions. The measures would also bar travel within the EU for those targeted. The Commission said the actions are meant to compel a change in policy and to help end the human suffering in Gaza, including the release of hostages.

At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV issued an urgent call for a ceasefire, expressing solidarity with Palestinians and urging respect for international humanitarian law. He said every person possesses inviolable dignity that must be protected and that the violence must stop so aid can reach those in need.

The Gaza health ministry in Gaza says more than 65,000 people have been killed since the fighting intensified, and about 90% of the population has been displaced within Gaza. A United Nations review in August found that famine conditions were developing in Gaza as humanitarian agencies struggle to reach those in need. The humanitarian crisis has prompted renewed international appeals for aid access and civilian protection, while Western and regional leaders weigh options to de-escalate the conflict.

The situation on the ground remains fluid, with international voices calling for accountability, humanitarian corridors, and a path toward a durable ceasefire. Read more: World Leaders React as a UN backed report confirms famine in Gaza.