Israel's decision to take over Gaza City was met with both resignation and defiance by Palestinians who have survived two years of war, displacement and repeated raids.

Meanwhile, many Israelis responded with fear and anger, worried it could be a death sentence for hostages held by Hamas militants.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that Israel would intensify its 22-month war with Hamas by taking over Gaza City, large parts of which have been destroyed by past bombardment and ground incursions.

A major ground operation is almost sure to cause more mass displacement and worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

“What does (Israel) want from us? ... There is nothing here to occupy,” said a woman in Gaza City who identified herself as Umm Youssef.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled Gaza City in the opening weeks of the war, the first of several mass displacements.

Many returned during a ceasefire earlier this year.

"To where should we be displaced? There is no place left," said Mahmoud Zaqout, who was displaced from northern Gaza.

Now, residents say they are too busy searching for food and trying to survive amid the city's bombed-out buildings and tent camps to think about another exodus.

Israel already controls and has largely destroyed around 75% of the Gaza Strip, with most of the population of some 2 million Palestinians now sheltering in Gaza City, the central city of Deir al-Balah and the sprawling displacement camps in the Muwasi area along the coast.

The offensive has killed over 61,300 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters or civilians. It says women and children make up around half the dead.

It is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The U.N. and other experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of casualties, while Israel disputes them.

The war erupted following the Hamas led attack in Israel that killed 1200 people and where about 250 were kidnapped.

Several were released during two ceasefires on November 2023 and earlier this year.

Only 20 of the remain 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to be alive.

Meanwhile in Gaza where the humanitarian crisis continues, Palestinians insist that they will not leave.