Jerusalem:  Israel has opened a new evacuation route out of Gaza City for 48 hours, urging civilians to leave ahead of an intensified ground offensive, even as tanks advanced cautiously from multiple directions.

The Israeli military announced that Salahudin Road would be open to allow people to move south, in an effort to reduce civilian presence in areas where fighting is expected to escalate. Leaflets were dropped urging families to evacuate. However, many residents have chosen to stay, citing fears of permanent displacement, insecurity along the route, and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the south where resources are scarce.

Military sources said Israeli tanks had advanced short distances into Gaza City from three approaches but had yet to achieve major breakthroughs. Officials warned the campaign could last for months, with an estimated 100,000 civilians likely to remain inside the city during the operation.

Airstrikes continued across the Gaza Strip, killing at least 30 people on Wednesday, including 19 in Gaza City. Local authorities said thousands of homes and shelters have been destroyed or damaged in recent weeks, with the Gaza government reporting that more than 1,600 residential buildings have been leveled since early August.

The United Nations and humanitarian groups condemned the offensive and the displacement plan, warning of catastrophic consequences for civilians. A recent UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, a finding Israel has strongly rejected.

Ceasefire prospects remain uncertain. Efforts at mediation have been further complicated by Israeli strikes targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, straining ties with Qatar, a key intermediary. U.S. officials warned that the window for a ceasefire is closing rapidly, while Israeli leaders remain focused on achieving a decisive military outcome.

As the 48-hour evacuation window narrows, thousands of families are faced with an agonizing choice: risk staying in the besieged city or flee south into overcrowded and undersupplied areas, unsure if they will ever return. The coming weeks are expected to bring both heavier fighting and a worsening humanitarian crisis.