DaysofPal – Despite weeks of heavy bombardment and evacuation orders issued by Israeli authorities, only around 10% of targeted residents in the Gaza Strip have left their homes, according to a report by the Israeli public broadcaster KAN.
The network’s correspondent in Gaza reported that this low rate of displacement has astonished Israeli military leadership, which had anticipated that sustained pressure, relentless airstrikes, and direct threats would compel a mass exodus from densely populated areas.
According to the report, military planners were relying on the assumption that wide areas would be emptied of civilians, easing the execution of ground operations. However, what they encountered instead was what senior commanders reportedly described as an “unprecedented determination” by Gaza’s residents to stay in their homes, despite the high risks posed by the continuing military offensive.
The correspondent added that this unexpected civilian resilience is now complicating Israel’s operational strategies, creating challenges the security establishment had not foreseen.
Initial military estimates had predicted large-scale displacement following the evacuation orders. Yet the reality on the ground has been starkly different, with many Palestinians choosing to remain in their communities. Israeli analysts cited in the report described this steadfastness as evidence of the deep-rooted connection Gazans have to their land and their refusal to yield to external threats or coercion.
The report reflects growing frustration within Israeli military circles over the limited effectiveness of displacement tactics, and raises questions about the assumptions underpinning Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
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