Israel Orders Gaza City Residents to Leave as New Offensive Looms
Israel’s military has ordered Palestinians in Gaza City to evacuate on Tuesday ahead of what it says will be a major new offensive to seize control of the territory’s largest urban area. The move has raised international concern as the nearly two-year war drags on with little sign of a ceasefire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the decision, saying Israel had “no choice” but to continue its operations until Hamas is fully defeated. He argued that the group’s refusal to surrender its weapons left Israel with no alternative but to press forward. Hamas, meanwhile, insists it will not disarm until an independent Palestinian state is recognized.
The planned takeover of Gaza City, home to about one million people, complicates mediation efforts led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. Talks to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages have so far failed. International critics warn that Israel’s plan to demilitarize the strip and impose security control could worsen the humanitarian disaster, with Gaza’s 2.2 million residents already facing food shortages and famine risk.
According to Israeli authorities, the military has taken over nearly three-quarters of Gaza since the war began with Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. Israel says 20 of the remaining 48 hostages believed to be in Gaza are still alive.
Gaza’s health ministry reports that more than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its military campaign. Nearly the entire population has been displaced, and large parts of the territory have been destroyed.
