In brief
Israeli military authorities have issued an urgent evacuation order for all residents of Gaza City, warning that remaining in the area is perilous ahead of an anticipated ground invasion. The escalation follows intense air strikes that have already devastated parts of the city. Amidst this tension, the humanitarian situation worsens, with the UN raising alarms over the looming famine affecting the area as the Israeli government continues its offensive against Hamas.
Israel has warned all residents of Gaza City to leave immediately in anticipation of a huge ground offensive.
The military's Arabic spokesman told as many as one million Palestinians living in Gaza's biggest urban centre to evacuate southwards. Remaining in the area is extremely dangerous, he said.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that air strikes destroying multiple high-rise buildings in Gaza City were only the beginning of the main, intensive operation aimed at capturing Hamas's last significant stronghold.
Hamas reacted by accusing Israel of committing a crime of forced displacement.
Israel's plans for conquering Gaza City have drawn international criticism. The UN has warned that intensifying military action in an area already grappling with famine will push civilians into an even deeper catastrophe.
The evacuation message from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was communicated through leaflets dropped over Gaza City and social media, urging civilians to leave for their safety. The IDF has been tasked with decisively defeating Hamas and returning hostages held by the militant group.
Recent weeks have seen Israel's air and ground attacks escalate significantly, with reports indicating that 50 high-rises were destroyed merely over the past two days.
Photographs showed a stream of people moving south from Gaza City, but many still felt unsafe leaving due to a lack of knowledge about where to go or affordability of transportation.
UN agencies have expressed that the compelling of many to evacuate could amount to forcible transfer under international law, highlighting logistical hardships and high costs involved in moving.
The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with the UN emphasizing that the area designated for evacuation, al-Mawasi, has also been subject to bombing, raising questions about the safety and capacity of this area to accommodate new arrivals.
Israel's ongoing military operations were launched in response to a Hamas-led attack that occurred on October 7, 2023, and have resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, with over 64,605 reported deaths in Gaza since that time.
