The Israeli military has issued a stark warning to all residents of Gaza City, urging them to evacuate south to the central Gaza Strip as the conflict intensifies in the region. Leaflets dropped by aircraft have instructed everyone in Gaza City to leave what is deemed a dangerous combat zone via designated safe routes to shelters in Deir al-Balah and al-Zawaida.
The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the evacuation orders, as Israeli forces continue to target areas where they believe Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have regrouped. The fighting persists as indirect negotiations for a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas are set to resume in Qatar, with the involvement of intelligence chiefs from Egypt, the US, and Israel.
Despite the evacuation orders, some residents are hesitant to leave their homes. One Gaza resident, Ibrahim al-Barbari, defiantly stated, “I will not leave Gaza. I will not make the stupid mistake that others have made. Israeli missiles do not differentiate between north and south. If death is my fate and the fate of my children, we will die with honor and dignity in our homes.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have reported conducting a counterterrorism operation against Hamas and PIJ fighters inside a UN agency for Palestinian refugees headquarters in Gaza City. The IDF claimed to have opened a corridor for civilian evacuation before engaging in combat with the fighters.
The UN Human Rights Office has condemned the IDF’s orders for residents to evacuate to areas where military operations are ongoing, highlighting the risks to civilians. The overcrowded conditions in the designated evacuation area of Deir al-Balah raise concerns about limited access to humanitarian assistance for displaced Palestinians.
The conflict in Gaza escalated following an attack on southern Israel in early October, leading to a significant loss of life and ongoing hostilities. The death toll continues to rise, with more than 38,295 people killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
