In a desperate attempt to escape the relentless bombardment from Israel's intensified ground and air campaign, thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes in northern Gaza. Streams of people, including women, children, the elderly, and disabled individuals, made their way south through the devastated enclave on Wednesday, walking for miles along Salah Eddin Street, one of the main highways in Gaza.

The mass exodus, likened by one teenage girl to the "Nakba" - the expulsion of Palestinians during the founding of Israel - has been prompted by the escalating violence and destruction caused by the ongoing offensive. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced an evacuation corridor, allowing the displaced Palestinians to seek refuge in the southern region.

The IDF has opened an evacuation window for the past five days, witnessing an increasing number of people fleeing south each day. According to the United Nations, approximately 2,000 Palestinians had already fled south on Sunday, a number that skyrocketed to 15,000 on Tuesday. The Israeli government stated that around 50,000 Gazans had traveled via the evacuation corridor on Wednesday, although independent verification of this figure is yet to be obtained.

Israel has been relentlessly ramping up its offensive inside Gaza after enduring the devastating attacks on October 7, which claimed the lives of 1,400 people in Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed that IDF troops were at the "heart of Gaza City," targeting Hamas infrastructure and commanders. The exact location of the Israeli forces' operations remains undisclosed.

"Gaza is the biggest terror stronghold that mankind has ever built," Gallant asserted. "This whole city is one big terror base. Underground, they have kilometers of tunnels connecting to hospitals and schools. We continue to dismantle this capability."

The IDF has been relentlessly bombarding Gaza for weeks, stating that it has successfully hit 14,000 terrorist targets in the densely populated area. However, the toll on innocent civilians has been devastating. A man, who chose to remain anonymous, shared his horrifying experience with a CNN journalist, stating that they had gone through "horrifying days." He mentioned that his family and neighbors had repeatedly sought shelter but were unable to escape the airstrikes.

"We are seven families. All of our houses are gone. Nothing is left. We couldn't take anything - no clothes, no water, nothing. The way here was very difficult. If something falls, you are not allowed to pick it up. You are not allowed to slow down. Dead bodies everywhere," he said.

The situation for those fleeing has been treacherous, with many traveling on donkey carts due to the lack of cars and fuel. The hardships faced by these displaced individuals, including children, newborns, and women, are unimaginable. A woman, preferring to remain anonymous, shared her distress, expressing, "We are being destroyed. No one cares about us. Maybe we are safe now, but I'm not sure about those who are still behind. I don't know where my family is. My siblings are behind me. Out of fear, I couldn't look behind. Not right, not left."

As the conflict rages on, causing widespread devastation and displacement, the international community continues to call for an immediate ceasefire, hoping to bring an end to the suffering endured by both Israelis and Palestinians caught in the crossfire.