The Israeli army on Saturday called on the residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the south, as its forces move deeper into the enclave’s largest urban center.
For weeks, Israeli forces have been conducting an offensive on the northern suburbs after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the capture of the city, which he considers a Hamas stronghold. He claims that the conquest of Gaza City is key to defeating Palestinian fighters, whose attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023, marked the beginning of Israel’s relentless campaign.
The offensive threatens to displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have already been hiding in this area for almost two years. Before the war, about one million people lived in Gaza City, nearly half of the total population of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said on the X network that civilians should leave the city and head to the coastal area of Khan Younis, designated as a “humanitarian zone,” with promises that they will receive food, medical aid, and shelter there.
On Thursday, the army announced that it controls nearly half of the city and approximately 75% of the total territory of Gaza. Despite continued air and artillery strikes, many residents refuse another evacuation, pointing out that they were already forcibly displaced once.
Israeli officials state that Netanyahu, who relies on the support of right-wing coalition partners, issued the order to capture the city despite opposition from part of the military leadership. Tens of thousands of reservists have been mobilized for the operation.
The war in Gaza has further isolated Israel on the international stage, as even its closest allies are increasingly criticizing the military campaign that has devastated the small territory and caused a severe humanitarian crisis.
“All or nothing”
According to local health authorities, more than 64.000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza so far, and a large part of the enclave has been leveled to the ground.
Netanyahu insists on an “all or nothing” deal, under which all hostages would be released at once, along with Hamas’s surrender. In contrast, Hamas is ready for a partial release of hostages in exchange for a temporary truce, similar to negotiations that collapsed in July.
United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington is in “very deep” negotiations with Palestinian militants.
Hamas, which ruled Gaza for nearly two decades but today controls only certain parts of the territory, says it will release all hostages only if Israel agrees to a complete end to the war and the withdrawal of its forces. Most of the hostages released so far were returned through negotiations involving the U.S. and Arab states.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stressed on Friday that military operations will be intensified until Hamas accepts Israel’s conditions, the release of hostages and disarmament. Otherwise, Katz said, “Hamas will be destroyed.”
