The Israeli army has urged residents of Gaza City to evacuate to a designated “humanitarian zone” in the south, as preparations for a major offensive to capture the territory’s largest urban center are underway. Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee shared this message through social media, advising civilians to move to the Al-Mawasi area, which is situated along Gaza’s southern coast. Thousands of people have already sought refuge there, according to the military.
Al-Mawasi has been designated as a safe zone, equipped with field hospitals, water pipelines, and desalination facilities, alongside ongoing supplies of food, tents, medicines, and medical equipment. The Israeli army has stated that relief efforts in this area will continue in partnership with the United Nations and various international organizations, even as ground operations expand.
However, the situation is complicated by the fact that Israel has conducted multiple strikes in this area since the onset of hostilities, arguing that it targets Hamas fighters hiding among civilians. Residents of Gaza City expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of fleeing. Abdel Nasser Mushtaha, a 48-year-old resident of the Zeitoun neighborhood, shared his thoughts while seeking shelter in a tent in the Rimal area. He noted that opinions about evacuation varied, yet safety seemed elusive. His daughter, Samia Mushtaha, emphasized the relentless threat of death, whether from airstrikes or starvation, saying: “It no longer makes any difference to us. Wherever we go, death pursues us.”
The call to evacuate comes amid heightened military operations around Gaza City and increasing domestic and international pressure for a resolution to the nearly two-year conflict. Hamas had previously accepted a proposal for a temporary ceasefire and staggered hostage releases, but Israel demands a more comprehensive agreement, including the immediate release of all hostages, disarmament of Hamas, and the relinquishing of control over Gaza.
In a related development, U.S. President Donald Trump disclosed ongoing negotiations with Hamas regarding the captives held within Gaza. He mentioned the possibility that some hostages may have recently died, while indicating that around 30 bodies are involved in the current discussions. The Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 resulted in 251 hostages being taken, with 47 still believed to be in Gaza, including some presumed dead.
The situation for civilians remains dire, with the United Nations estimating that nearly one million individuals are still in and around Gaza City, where a famine has been declared. The looming offensive is expected to displace an additional million people. Currently, a significant portion of Gaza’s population, which exceeds two million, has been displaced at least once during the ongoing conflict.
The conflict has resulted in a staggering death toll, with recent figures indicating that 1,219 people were killed during Hamas’s attack on Israel, while Israeli military operations have led to at least 64,300 Palestinian deaths—mostly civilians—according to the health ministry in Gaza, a source the UN considers reliable. However, media restrictions and access difficulties hinder the verification of these figures and other details regarding the conflict’s human toll.
