DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — On Saturday, Israel's army urged Palestinians in Gaza City to evacuate to a humanitarian area it designated in the south, amidst preparations to seize control of the famine-stricken city. With nearly 1 million residents, parts of Gaza City have been classified as “red zones,” where evacuation orders were issued in anticipation of extensive military operations.
Aid organizations have expressed deep concern that a mass evacuation from Gaza City could worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis. Many Palestinians have faced repeated displacements during the nearly two-year-long war, with numerous individuals experiencing severe physical weakness and lacking safe relocation options.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee communicated via X that the Muwasi area, a makeshift tent camp in southern Gaza, has been declared a humanitarian zone. He called on residents of Gaza City, described as a Hamas stronghold and a combat zone, to leave. According to the Israeli army, evacuees can use designated roads to travel south without undergoing searches. A map provided by the military highlighted the Khan Younis area, indicating the humanitarian zone, which includes the region surrounding Nasser Hospital. While the area around the hospital has been labeled a red zone, the facility itself remains operational. Recently, Israeli strikes did target the hospital, resulting in 22 fatalities, including Mariam Dagga, a journalist for The Associated Press.
The identified safe zone is intended to include field hospitals, water pipelines, food provisions, and tents. Relief efforts are planned to continue in collaboration with the United Nations and other international organizations; however, the U.N. could not be reached for comments immediately. Notably, throughout the course of the war, Israeli military actions have impacted previously designated humanitarian zones, including Muwasi.
The evacuation directive was issued shortly after Israeli forces targeted a high-rise building in Gaza City, alleging its use by Hamas for surveillance, though no evidence was provided for this claim. The ongoing conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, following an attack by Hamas-led militants that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, alongside the abduction of 251 others. Most of these individuals have since been released under various ceasefire arrangements.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israeli military operations have claimed over 64,000 Palestinian lives, with the organization cautioning that it does not specify how many were civilians versus combatants, although it reports that women and children constitute around half of the fatalities. The U.N. and independent experts regard the Health Ministry as a reliable source for conflict-related casualties, despite Israel's disputes over these figures without presenting its own statistics.
Israel has stated that its military campaign will persist until all hostages are returned and Hamas is disarmed. The Israeli government has asserted a commitment to maintaining ongoing security control over the region, which is home to about 2 million Palestinians. Conversely, Hamas has declared its intention to release the remaining hostages solely in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, a comprehensive ceasefire, and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
