In a dramatic move on Tuesday, the Israeli military ordered nearly 1 million residents of Gaza City to evacuate immediately ahead of a planned escalation in combat. Residents were told to move south to Al-Mawasi, the area Israel has designated as a "humanitarian zone." 😰🚨
Military spokesman Avichay Adraee warned on X that "the army will act with great force in the area." Airdropped leaflets rained down as people picked through the rubble of bombed-out towers that had collapsed in recent days.
The orders have sent waves of panic and confusion through Gaza City, the region’s largest urban center. Many residents say there is nowhere truly safe to go. While some, like 55-year-old Um Mohammad, say they will head south "to be with my daughter," others are determined to stay put despite the danger.
Health authorities also announced the evacuation of Gaza City’s two main hospitals, Al Shifa and Al Ahli, pledging to keep doctors with patients every step of the way. But with supplies running low and infrastructure in ruins, the risk of a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe looms larger by the hour. 🆘
Since October 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel—killing around 1,200 people and seizing 251 hostages—the conflict’s toll has been staggering. Gaza’s health ministry reports over 64,000 Palestinians killed, nearly the entire population internally displaced, and a deepening hunger crisis declared a famine in key areas.
On the political front, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has threatened a "mighty hurricane" to finish off Hamas if hostages are not freed. Yet, no major new ground operations have started, and Israeli forces currently control roughly 40 percent of Gaza City’s outskirts.
The international community is sounding the alarm. Several European nations plan to recognize Palestinian statehood at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly, while human rights groups warn that Israel’s plan to demilitarize Gaza could worsen the plight of 2.2 million people.
In a related development, a flotilla attempting to break the naval blockade and deliver aid was hit by a drone at a Tunisian port—but all six crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, walked away unharmed. 🌊✊
With negotiations still on the table after a ceasefire proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump, the situation remains volatile. For now, Gaza City’s residents are left waiting—wondering where they can find safety in a conflict that shows no sign of slowing down.
Reference(s):
Israeli military evacuation order triggers panic in Gaza City
cgtn.com
