The Israeli military has issued an urgent evacuation order for residents of Gaza City, instructing them to move south to Khan Younis as operations escalate in the densely populated urban area. This directive comes as Israeli forces continue their offensive to capture Gaza City, which has been identified as a key stronghold for Hamas following the group’s October 7, 2023, incursion into Israel that resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized the importance of seizing Gaza City to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities. The ongoing conflict has already displaced countless Palestinians who were seeking refuge from the violence. Prior to the current hostilities, Gaza City was home to nearly one million people, representing almost half of Gaza’s total population.
Avichay Adraee, a spokesperson for the Israeli military, communicated the evacuation order via social media platform X, urging civilians to relocate to a designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza. He assured those fleeing that essential services, including food, medical care, and shelter, would be available in Khan Younis.
The evacuation warning was followed by an Israeli airstrike on a high-rise building in Gaza City, which the military claims was used by Hamas for intelligence operations. The military did not provide specific evidence to support this assertion. In a video shared by Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz, the structure collapsed in a cloud of dust and debris after the strike. Hamas has strongly denied using the building for military purposes, stating it served as a shelter for displaced families.
Reports from local health authorities indicate that at least 23 Palestinians were killed on Saturday alone, with over half of those fatalities occurring in the Gaza City area. This follows another airstrike on a high-rise building on Friday, also deemed to be a Hamas target. As of Thursday, the Israeli military claimed control over nearly 50% of Gaza City and approximately 75% of the entire Gaza Strip.
Many of the current residents in Gaza City had previously fled their homes earlier in the conflict, only to return. Some have expressed a determination not to be displaced again, despite the ongoing threats. The military has intensified its strikes on Gaza City, with forces reportedly advancing to within a few kilometers of the city center.
Netanyahu’s decision to pursue the capture of Gaza City has caused tensions within Israeli military circles, as it reportedly goes against the advice of military leadership. The conflict has also led to Israel facing increasing diplomatic isolation, with criticism growing from some of its traditional allies regarding the humanitarian impact of its military actions.
The conflict, which has resulted in over 64,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health officials, has devastated Gaza’s infrastructure, leading to a profound humanitarian crisis. Calls for a ceasefire have intensified, particularly from families of hostages taken during the October attack.
Hamas has taken 251 hostages into Gaza, with efforts underway to negotiate their release. Family members and their supporters are advocating for a diplomatic resolution that would ensure the release of the remaining 48 captives, with 20 believed to be alive. While Hamas has proposed the release of some hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire, Netanyahu is pursuing a more comprehensive arrangement that demands the total release of hostages alongside Hamas’s surrender.
As the situation continues to evolve, the humanitarian needs of those affected by the conflict remain critical, with many civilians caught in the crossfire of a war that has reshaped the region’s dynamics.
