Half a million Palestinians trapped in just 8 km2 in Gaza City: UNRWA
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Around 70,000 Palestinians are crammed into each square kilometer.
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Smoke and fire rise from an Israeli airstrike on the Macca Tower, a high-rise building in Gaza City, on September 28, 2025 (AP)
Around 500,000 Palestinians remain trapped in Gaza City, confined to an area of just eight square kilometers, stated the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The agency described the situation as a severe Gaza City humanitarian crisis, warning of dire consequences if an immediate ceasefire is not implemented.
“In Gaza City, around half a million Palestinians remain trapped in an area of less than eight square kilometers,” said UNRWA spokesman Adnan Abu Hasna, in remarks posted by the agency on X.
“Around 70,000 people will be crammed into each square kilometer. There’s no space for a single tent. Tens of thousands of families are left without shelter on the streets,” he added.
'Israel' expands occupation strategy amid international alarm
Gaza City, which covers 74.6 square kilometers, has been the focal point of "Israel’s" latest military campaign. Since August, the Israeli government has been carrying out a declared plan to fully occupy the city. According to recent developments, the occupation forces now control most of the urban area and are gradually expanding their presence.
The UNRWA Gaza update raises alarm over the situation of Palestinians trapped in the north, with nearly no access to safe zones, food, or shelter.
Famine, disease haunt the displaced
Abu Hasna stressed that famine has begun to follow displaced families as they flee from Gaza City toward central and southern areas of the Gaza Strip. He underlined the urgent need for unrestricted humanitarian access to alleviate the worsening situation.
Since March 2, "Israel" has fully sealed off Gaza’s border crossings, effectively blocking food and aid convoys. This has deepened famine conditions and led to further displacement, exacerbating the spread of disease and malnutrition.
Only sporadic and limited humanitarian supplies are allowed in, with many shipments reportedly looted by armed groups that Gaza authorities accuse "Israel" of backing or shielding.
UN calls for immediate ceasefire, aid access
The UNRWA spokesman reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid. He emphasized that without urgent international intervention, the Palestinian displacement crisis would reach catastrophic proportions.
The Gaza famine of 2025 is now a pressing concern, with food insecurity rapidly escalating and medical infrastructure already decimated.
Since October 2023, the Israeli military has killed over 66,000 Palestinians in Gaza, the majority of whom are women and children. The relentless bombardment has rendered the enclave uninhabitable, leading to mass starvation and a breakdown in civil order.
