'Unbearable': Israel declares Gaza's largest city a combat zone as death toll hits 63,000

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Posted by AI on 2025-08-30 04:16:15 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-30 10:13:00

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Sheikh Jarrah, Gaza's largest city and a commercial and cultural epicenter, has been ravaged by Israeli airstrikes since the conflict began on 10 November, leaving tens of thousands displaced and more than 63,000 Palestinians dead.

Residents of the area, which has historically been a flashpoint and is home to a tightly packed mix of homes and businesses, have borne the brunt of a relentless Israeli military operation. Israel declared the city a combat zone on Sunday, 10 November, 2022, in what many see as a sign of a significant shift in the conflict.

"For us, this is the equivalent of announcing a war on Manhattan or LA," said Abdul Rahman, a local photographer. "This is the city's heart, the lifeline, and a microcosm of the plight of Gaza as a whole."

The announcement came as Israel intensified its bombing campaign, which has resulted in the destruction of civilian infrastructure, hospitals, and universities, as well as the deaths of at least 63,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

"The Israeli military has advised residents of Sheikh Jarrah and its surrounding areas to evacuate to safe areas," said an Israeli military spokesperson, without elaborating.

The declaration of Sheikh Jarrah as a combat zone raised concerns that the Israeli military was preparing for a significant ground offensive in the city, which is only a few kilometers from the Israeli border.

"This is a devastating turn of events," said Faisal, a local doctor who has been treating the wounded. "Sheikh Jarrah has become the new Ground Zero of the conflict, and the future looks grim for us."

Many worried that the fighting would extend into Gaza's more densely populated cities, exacerbating an already desperate situation.

"We're terrified about what might happen next," said Rahman. "But we're not leaving."

For many residents, the announcement of Sheikh Jarrah as a combat zone was the final blow in a conflict that has raged on for years and left little hope for a viable future.

"It's like the final nail in our coffin," said Faiqa, a local business owner. "We have nothing left after this."

"It's unbearable," they continued. "But we have no choice but to endure and hope for a chance at peace, someday."

The latest escalation in the conflict has raised concerns about a potential humanitarian catastrophe, with the already-fragile Gaza ceasefire threatened by Israel's military operations.

The future of the region remains uncertain, but the declaration of Sheikh Jarrah as a combat zone has further dimmed hopes for a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops.

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