GAZA CITY, Gaza—The Israeli military has issued an urgent warning for all residents of Gaza City to evacuate immediately, signalling the start of a major ground offensive. A military spokesperson told an estimated one million Palestinians in the urban centre to move south, stating that “remaining in the area is extremely dangerous.”
The warning comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that recent air strikes, which have destroyed dozens of high-rise buildings, were “only the beginning of the main, intensive operation.” He described Gaza City as Hamas’s “last important stronghold.” Hamas has condemned the Israeli statements as a “public demonstration of a fully-fledged crime of forced displacement.”
The UN has voiced concerns that the intensified offensive could push civilians into an “even deeper catastrophe” in an area already facing a declared famine. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) dropped leaflets and posted messages on social media with an unequivocal evacuation order, saying it was “determined to defeat Hamas and will operate in Gaza City with great determination.”
Challenges and Civilian Accounts
Despite the warning, there has not been a mass exodus, with many residents facing significant challenges. A mother of three, named Hanaa, told the BBC she was holding out until they were in “real danger” because she did not know where to go. Another student, Razan Salha, said she had fled two days ago and was sharing a room with around 20 relatives, noting that a lack of affordable transport and safe destinations meant not everyone was able to leave.
International aid agencies have warned that the high costs and logistical hurdles are preventing many from moving. They also state that ordering hundreds of thousands of people to move could amount to forcible transfer under international law. While the IDF has designated a “humanitarian area” in al-Mawasi, the UN has repeatedly stated that no place in Gaza can be considered “safe.”
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