New Evacuation Orders Issued in Gaza Amid Intensifying Conflict

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas intensifies, the Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of dozens of neighborhoods in central Gaza, creating chaos among residents and the displaced.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has initiated urgent evacuation orders for the crowded city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, an area that had previously seen no ground offensives over the course of the ongoing 21-month war against Hamas. Residents and displaced Palestinians are now urged to flee immediately towards al-Mawasi along the Mediterranean coast—a directive that suggests an impending military action and has incited widespread fear among local populations and families of Israeli hostages believed to be in the vicinity.

On Sunday, the IDF distributed leaflets demanding evacuation from specific districts in southwestern Deir al-Balah, stating their ongoing operations to dismantle terrorist infrastructure while simultaneously avoiding ground troop deployment, likely due to suspicions surrounding the presence of hostages in these areas. Reports indicate that at least 20 of the remaining hostages—out of 50 still held—are believed to be alive.

The ongoing conflict, which began after Hamas's assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, leaving approximately 1,200 people dead and prompting hundreds of hostage situations, has led to massive displacement within Gaza. Over two million residents have been forced from their homes at least once amidst relentless bombardments. Reports from health officials at Gaza City's Shifa Hospital indicate that more than 40 individuals have died and many have been wounded due to Israeli fire as they gathered for anticipated UN aid deliveries. The humanitarian situation worsens, with the UN warning that civilians are facing starvation amid ongoing violence.

Witness accounts reveal that many fatalities occur when Palestinians seek aid, often at the hands of Israeli forces, despite the establishment of new humanitarian distribution protocols by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Israel contends that these measures are essential to prevent aid from reaching Hamas, even as civilian casualties continue to rise. The Hamas-run health ministry cites over 58,895 deaths in Gaza as a result of Israeli attacks, figures that are regarded by international organizations, including the UN, as some of the most credible casualty statistics available.