Days after the Israeli military declared full control over parts of northern Gaza, there are now reports of them withdrawing from these parts with no explanation, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud from Rafah reports.

“We saw more intense bombardment in the central area, in Khan Younis particularly, all of last night and the early hours of this morning. There were reports of massive explosions in these two areas, in Khan Younis and refugee camps in the central part.

“The intensity of the bombing and the fact that many of the roads and infrastructures are destroyed prevented ambulances from going to the targeted sites and taking people to the hospitals,” Mahmoud reports.

“Thousands of Palestinians forcibly displaced here in the southern part of Gaza are forced to live in unsuitable conditions, in plastic and nylon tents. The weather is getting colder and there was heavy rain. We have had reports of the Al-Mawasi evacuation zone getting flooded and a lot of people had water inside their tents.

“There is no heating, no suitable clothing and no blankets to keep people warm. And waterborne and infectious diseases are spreading,” he adds.

Opinion

Editorial

Missing in action
17 Mar, 2026

Missing in action

NOT exactly known for playing a proactive role in protecting the interests of Muslim nations and populations...
Risk to stability
Updated 17 Mar, 2026

Risk to stability

THE risks to Pakistan’s fragile economic recovery from the US-Israel war on Iran cannot be dismissed. Yet the...
Enrolment push
17 Mar, 2026

Enrolment push

THE federal government has embarked upon the welcome initiative to enrol 25,000 out-of-school children in Islamabad...
Holding the line
16 Mar, 2026

Holding the line

PAKISTAN’S long battle against polio has recently produced encouraging signs. Data from the national eradication...
Power self-reliance
Updated 16 Mar, 2026

Power self-reliance

PAKISTAN’S transition to domestic sources of electricity is a welcome development for a country that has long been...
Looking for safety
16 Mar, 2026

Looking for safety

AS the Middle East conflict enters its third week, the war’s most enduring victims are not those who wage it....