Israel orders evacuation of Gaza City

BarcelonaThe Israeli army ordered Gaza City residents to evacuate the city center on Tuesday ahead of a renewed offensive to seize control. Thus, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing ahead with his plan to control Hamas's two remaining strongholds, despite efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement with the militant group, mediated by the United States.

"To the residents of Gaza: Seize this opportunity and listen carefully. We have warned you. Get out!" Netanyahu said. The prime minister asserted that Israel has no choice but to complete the job and defeat Hamas, given that the Palestinian militant group has refused to hand over its weapons. Hamas said it would not disarm until an independent Palestinian state was established.

The new evacuation order has sparked panic and confusion among Gaza City residents, many of whom have decided to stay put because there is no other safe place. Others have begun to head south. "Despite the bombardment last week, I have resisted leaving, but now I will go to be with my daughter," Um Mohamed, a 55-year-old mother of six, told Reuters. The Israeli military has ordered Gaza City residents to move to the southern area of Al Mawasi in Khan Yunis, which it has designated as a "humanitarian zone."

Gaza City residents have already been displaced several times since the war began in October 2023, moving between the north and south of the coastal enclave in a worsening humanitarian crisis that has led to famine. International experts believe that Israel's plan, which includes the demilitarization of the entire Strip as Israel takes control, could worsen the humanitarian situation for the Strip's 2.2 million people, who face a critical risk of starvation.

Netanyahu said Israeli forces are organizing and assembling in Gaza City for a ground "maneuver," but that there had been no further tank advances to deepen the ground offensive as of Tuesday. Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz warned Monday that the military would intensify its campaign into a "powerful hurricane." If Hamas does not release its last hostages and surrenders.

Hopes had been pinned on mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire that would avert Israel's plan to occupy all of Gaza City. Qatar has been pressing Hamas leaders to "respond positively" to the latest ceasefire deal proposed by the United States during talks on Monday in Doha, an official briefed on the talks told Reuters. Israel says it has already accepted the proposal, which would see Hamas return all hostages on the first day of the ceasefire.