Israel Expands Military Operations as Gaza City Faces Humanitarian Crisis

Israel’s military has issued an evacuation order to residents of Gaza City, urging them to relocate to what has been designated a humanitarian area in the southern region. This directive comes as the Israeli army intensifies its operations in the city, which has been severely impacted by ongoing conflict and humanitarian distress. The population of Gaza City, estimated at nearly one million, is facing a growing crisis as parts of the city are classified as “red zones,” where heavy fighting is anticipated.

The order, communicated by Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, encourages residents to move to Muwasi in the southern Gaza Strip. This area has been identified as a makeshift tent camp that is now labeled a humanitarian zone. Adraee emphasized that civilians can travel to this designated area via a specified route without undergoing security checks. The Israeli army has released a map outlining the humanitarian zone, which includes the vicinity of Nasser Hospital. While the hospital itself is not under evacuation orders, the surrounding areas have been marked as red zones.

Recent airstrikes have intensified concerns over civilian safety. On a prior occasion, Israeli forces targeted Nasser Hospital, resulting in the deaths of 22 individuals, including Mariam Dagga, an employee of the Associated Press. The humanitarian area is expected to provide field hospitals, food, water, and shelter, with relief efforts coordinated in partnership with the United Nations and other international organizations.

Despite the establishment of this humanitarian zone, aid groups have voiced serious concerns about the consequences of a mass evacuation from Gaza City. Many residents have already faced multiple displacements during the nearly two-year conflict, leaving them vulnerable and without adequate resources to move. The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that over 64,000 Palestinians have died as a result of the ongoing conflict, with around half of the casualties being women and children. This figure is considered the most reliable estimate by the United Nations and independent experts, although Israel disputes these numbers without providing an alternative count.

The escalation of military operations follows a deadly incident where Israeli forces struck a high-rise building in Gaza City, claiming it was utilized by Hamas for surveillance, though no evidence has been presented to support this assertion. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants conducted an attack in southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 individuals, most of whom have since been released under ceasefire agreements.

Israel’s military strategy aims to continue until all hostages are returned and Hamas is disarmed. The Israeli government has indicated that it intends to maintain open-ended security control over the territory, which is home to about two million Palestinians. In response, Hamas has stated that it would agree to release the remaining hostages only in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

As the situation in Gaza City remains dire, the international community watches closely, with significant implications for regional stability and humanitarian efforts.