Israel Orders Gaza City Evacuation Ahead of Offensive
Israel’s military on Tuesday ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate. The directive comes ahead of a planned offensive to seize control of what Israel calls Hamas’ last stronghold. Hundreds of thousands of people remain in the area, struggling with famine and constant danger.
Hours after issuing the evacuation warning, Israel launched a strike aimed at Hamas leaders in Qatar. The move escalated its campaign and threatened ongoing negotiations to end the war in Gaza.
Until now, Israel’s military had only called for partial evacuations in specific parts of the city. Tuesday’s alerts marked the first demand for a full evacuation of Gaza City.
Mass Exodus Underway
Associated Press reporters observed a surge in departures. Long lines of cars and trucks left the city, carrying people and their belongings. Children and adults rode atop piles of blankets, pillows, chairs, and clothes stacked on wagons and vehicles.
Many Still Trapped
Despite the exodus, many residents remain. A coalition of humanitarian groups said Tuesday that the number of people fleeing nearly doubled the daily average in recent weeks.
But rising costs for transport and shelter have left many stuck. Site Management Cluster, which tracks displacement through field reports and social media, confirmed that many cannot afford to leave.
“We were displaced two days ago,” said Hazem Abu Reyash. “My wife and I are sleeping on the street. There’s no tent, no water, no food—nothing.”
No Safe Place to Go
Roughly 1 million Palestinians—about half of Gaza’s population—still live in northern Gaza, including Gaza City. The Israeli military and the United Nations confirmed this estimate.
Many residents have already fled multiple times and feel unsure whether heading south will offer safety.
“There’s no place for us,” said Mohammad Ashraf. “We’ve been displaced twice already. We paid 800 shekels ($240) for a ride and found nothing. God willing, they’ll hit us with nuclear weapons and give us peace.”relief.”
