Israel Orders Full Evacuation of Gaza City
ahead of a planned military operation,the Israeli military has issued a full evacuation order for Gaza city,marking the first such directive in the current conflict. The order impacts approximately one million Palestinians residing in the area. Israeli authorities are urging residents to move south to a designated humanitarian zone within Gaza, promising humanitarian assistance to those who comply. However, aid organizations have expressed concerns about the limited infrastructure available to support a mass influx of displaced people.
The evacuation order follows a significant escalation in Israeli military action, including the demolition of numerous high-rise buildings in Gaza City. Israel claims these buildings housed military infrastructure used by Hamas,with Defense Minister Israel Katz stating 30 structures have been destroyed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported the destruction of at least 50 “terror towers” allegedly utilized by Hamas for similar purposes, characterizing these demolitions as a preliminary phase before a full ground incursion.
The current conflict began on October 7th, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, the majority of whom were civilians, and abducting 251 individuals. Forty-eight hostages remain in Gaza, with roughly 20 believed to be alive.In response, Israel launched a retaliatory offensive in Gaza. According to the Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza, at least 64,522 Palestinians have been killed.The ministry reports that approximately half of those killed are women and children. The offensive has resulted in widespread destruction across major cities and has displaced an estimated 90% of Gaza’s two million Palestinian residents.
(Source: AP)
