The Israeli military has issued a sweeping evacuation order for Gaza City as attacks intensify across the Gaza Strip. Israel Orders Gaza City Evacuation as Attacks Intensify comes as Israel presses ahead with a fresh offensive, resulting in dozens of casualties over the past 48 hours.
Leaflets dropped from the air instructed “everyone in Gaza City” to evacuate and take “safe routes” towards Deir el-Balah and az-Zawayda. However, Gaza’s Interior Ministry has called on residents to disregard these orders, describing them as psychological warfare. The United Nations has expressed concern that as Israel Orders Gaza City Evacuation as Attacks Intensify, it will exacerbate the suffering of Palestinian families, many of whom have already been displaced multiple times. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, emphasized the need to protect civilians.
The evacuation order follows a series of Israeli attacks, including a strike on al-Awdah School that killed at least 30 people and wounded 53 others, mostly women and children. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that two-thirds of its schools in Gaza, serving as shelters for displaced Palestinians, have been hit, resulting in 524 deaths. Israel’s military chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, stated that forces are operating in multiple parts of Gaza to exert pressure and continue efforts to bring home hostages. The conflict has resulted in at least 38,295 Palestinian deaths and 88,241 injuries since October, according to Palestinian officials.
As the military activity intensifies, mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar met with Israeli officials in Doha to discuss a potential ceasefire deal and prisoner exchange. However, Hamas officials have expressed concerns that the recent escalation could derail negotiations. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh stated that Israel’s intensified assault threatens talks at a crucial time and could bring negotiations “back to square one.” Hamas seeks international guarantees for a permanent ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on continuing the campaign to eliminate Hamas.
The situation remains tense as both sides struggle to find common ground. As Israel Orders Gaza City Evacuation as Attacks Intensify, it has further complicated the humanitarian crisis in the region, with Palestinians caught between the threat of military action and the challenges of displacement. As international pressure mounts for a resolution to the conflict, the outcome of the Doha talks and the impact of the latest evacuation order remain uncertain. The coming days will be critical in determining whether a path to peace can be found or if the cycle of violence will continue to escalate.
