Miraculous Escape: Evacuees Prepare for Safety, Survive Israeli Airstrike

Palestinian residents in northern Gaza followed the instructions provided by the Israeli military through phone calls, text messages, and fliers, believing that they were seeking refuge and safety by relocating to the south.

The Israeli Defense Forces advised civilians in north Gaza to evacuate to southern areas of Wadi Gaza for their own safety and the safety of their families. This guidance was issued on Friday as the IDF continued its operations in Gaza City, making every effort to avoid harm to civilians. Unfortunately, despite following the evacuation warnings, some Palestinians faced the tragic outcome they were trying to escape as Israeli airstrikes caused casualties outside the designated evacuation zone.

The danger of civilian casualties in the heavily populated Gaza Strip is highlighted by these killings, proving that evacuation zones and warning alerts by the Israeli military do not ensure the safety of Palestinians. Trapped without a secure refuge, they are left vulnerable to Israeli bombings.

A plume of smoke rises in the sky over Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday.

Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

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Early on Friday, Aaed Al-Ajrami and his nephew, Raji, were contacted by an Israeli military official who urged them to quickly gather everyone they know and travel southwards. Although they complied with the instructions and managed to escape to an area outside the designated evacuation zone, Aaed's family tragically fell victim to an Israeli airstrike the following day.

CNN has obtained an audio recording of the phone call, exposing the specifics of the short dialogue. The conversation highlighted the Israeli Defense Forces' directive to evacuate south of the designated area without providing any instructions on the route. Realizing the importance of the caller's identity, Raji mentioned that they recorded the conversation for the purpose of sharing it with their relatives.

The officer instructed them, "Everyone should make their way to the South. You and your entire family must gather your belongings and proceed in that direction."

Aaed wanted to know what road would be safe to take and what time they should leave.

"It doesnt matter which road," the officer replied. "Do it as fast as you can. There is no time left."

Aaed took the warning seriously. As the sun rose on Friday, he and his family and relatives set off to seek shelter with friends in Deir Al Balah, a city located approximately eight miles south of Wadi Gaza and beyond the designated evacuation area. Tragically, the following day, an Israeli airstrike targeted the vicinity, resulting in the destruction of the building where Aaed's family had sought safety. This devastating attack claimed the lives of Aaed and twelve other family members, including seven innocent children.

Raji's nephew, 32-year-old Raji, was residing in a neighboring building when he heard the explosion and immediately grew alarmed. Upon receiving a phone call informing him that his uncle's family was among the victims, he hurried to the site.

"The devastation was extensive," recalled Raji. "We initiated rescue efforts, extricating those who had been struck by the explosion, with some fortunate enough to still be alive. The acrid smell of gunpowder overwhelmed us, and a thick layer of dust covered everything in sight."

Bodies of the Ajrami family members killed by an Israeli airstrike

"These individuals believed they had finally achieved safety and assumed nothing untoward would occur in the vicinity," remarked Raji. "Despite adhering to instructions to avoid exposure to hazards, danger pervades and can unexpectedly confront anyone, regardless of their location."

CNN has contacted the IDF for a response regarding the airstrike that occurred outside of the designated evacuation area, specifically in Deir Al Balah. Despite approximately 500,000 Palestinians relocating to the southern region of Gaza since Friday, there remains a significant number of individuals who are unable to travel beyond the evacuation zone and are currently confined to northern Gaza.

Yara Alhayek, a 22-year-old, expressed to CNN that her family in the northern region had no safe haven to seek if they decided to head south. "There is nowhere safe for us to flee... it is highly perilous whether we leave or stay in our house, leaving us uncertain about what action to take."

Israel has justified its continuous bombardment of Gaza through airstrikes by asserting that it targets Hamas headquarters and assets concealed within civilian structures. They argue that even though a building may seem civilian, it is actually "a valid military target."

UN experts have criticized Israel for its indiscriminate targeting of Palestinian civilians, with Doctors Without Borders reporting that hospitals and ambulances have also been hit in the airstrikes. Most of the casualties have been civilians due to the indiscriminate bombing campaign. According to Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, Israel's military airstrikes have resulted in over 2,800 deaths and 11,000 injuries since October 7, as reported by the official Palestinian press agency, WAFA.

Israeli forces and military hardware have gathered along the Gaza border as Israel braces itself to intensify its retaliation against the Islamist extremist organization Hamas after the deadly assault on October 7. Throughout the weekend, warplanes persistently targeted Gaza, resulting in a wave of civilians heading southward in response to Israel's evacuation directives.

Furthermore, various United Nations agencies have cautioned that a large-scale evacuation in the midst of such harrowing circumstances may culminate in a calamity. They have specifically expressed concern for the most susceptible individuals in Gaza, such as the elderly and pregnant women, who might encounter significant difficulties in finding suitable alternative shelter.

"The evacuation order for 1.1 million people in northern Gaza goes against the principles of warfare and common decency," stated Martin Griffiths, the director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in a late Friday statement. "Roads and houses have been completely destroyed, leaving no safe haven."

Raji, who has provided refuge for the injured children who survived the assault, reveals that he must maintain a facade of strength to offer them support, even though he feels shattered inside.

"I feel the injustice, these are innocent people, what did they do?"