TEL AVIV - As Israeli troops continue their assault on Gaza City, thousands of Palestinian civilians have embarked on a perilous journey to escape the violence. The escalating conflict has prompted an exodus from northern Gaza, with residents fleeing to seek refuge in the southern region. With bombings persisting and casualties mounting, Palestinians felt compelled to leave their homes in search of safety.

On Wednesday, a long procession of Palestinians, stretching for miles, could be seen walking along Salah al-Din Road, forming a mass exodus towards southern Gaza. Courageously making their way through bombed-out buildings and Israeli tanks, some carried white flags in an attempt to protect themselves from attacks. Heart-wrenching accounts from witnesses recounted the sight of decomposing bodies strewn along the roadside.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that on Tuesday alone, the number of Palestinians leaving northern Gaza tripled to 15,000, up from the previous day's count of 5,000. Acknowledging the dire situation, Israel briefly opened a humanitarian corridor along Salah al-Din Road on Wednesday to facilitate the movement of civilians.

According to an IDF spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an estimated 50,000 Palestinians had already fled south on Wednesday. However, Hamas, the Palestinian political and military organization, disputed these claims, denying any significant gains made by Israeli troops or their entry into Gaza City. The veracity of both Israel and Hamas's battlefield assertions remains unverified by independent sources, including NBC News.

Amidst the chaos, Hamas accused the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) of "collusion" with Israel, alleging that the agency facilitated the "forced displacement" of civilians as they sought refuge in the south. The situation is exacerbated by the dire living conditions in Gaza, as many Palestinians face severe shortages of basic necessities such as water, electricity, and food, with some surviving on as little as one piece of bread per day.

Video footage posted on social media platforms further underscored the magnitude of the exodus, showing the sheer numbers of Palestinians making their way through the packed road. Satellite imagery from Tuesday depicted a similar scene, with large groups of people traversing Salah al-Din Road.

With each passing day, the window of time for vulnerable civilians to escape northern Gaza, which has transformed into a "fierce combat zone," grows narrower. However, concerns have been raised regarding the safety of those evacuating, as Israeli bombardment continues to target residential areas and refugee camps, despite repeated warnings from the Israeli military for civilians to seek refuge in the south.

In the face of tremendous uncertainty and grave risks, Palestinians remain divided on their course of action. Ameer Ghalban, who aided an older relative in a wheelchair down Salah al-Din Road, expressed the desperation that forced them to leave, citing the ongoing siege and the absence of basic necessities. However, others, like Fares Abu Fares, a volunteer with the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, have chosen to stay despite the advancing Israeli troops. Fares fears that attempting to move south could endanger the lives of his family.

As Israel's military operations intensify within Gaza City, the growing exodus of Palestinians reveals the irrevocable changes wrought upon the metropolis. The significance of these developments extends beyond the immediate crisis, with concerns of potential forced displacement becoming permanent and echoing the traumatic events of the "Nakba" in 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled from their land.

The situation remains precarious, as humanitarian organizations struggle to cope with the influx of displaced persons. Hospitals, where thousands seek shelter, face tremendous challenges in relocating critical patients. While the Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of certain medical facilities on the grounds of armed groups using the premises, health officials emphasize the potential danger to the lives of vulnerable children in need of life support and specialized care.

As the conflict in Gaza rages on, it is evident that the plight of Palestinians and the impact on civilian lives are of paramount concern. With each passing moment, the urgency to find a resolution and restore peace grows ever more pressing.