Gaza (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Sunday, the Israeli defence forces issued new evacuation warnings for parts of central Gaza, one of the rare areas where they have seldom used ground forces.
The development comes as Israel and Hamas have been carrying out ceasefire discussions in Qatar, but international mediators have reported that there have been no advancements, AP news reported. Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu has stated many times before that increased Israeli military pressure in Gaza will force Hamas to start negotiating, although negotiations have been impeded for many months.
Why is Israel issuing new evacuation orders in Gaza?
The region of Gaza under the evacuation order is also where many international organisations are trying to distribute aid. The evacuation cuts access between the city of Deir al-Balah and the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis in the narrow enclave.
Military spokesman Avichay Adraee cautioned that the forces will attack “with intensity” against militants. He urged residents, including those in tents, to move to the Muwasi area, a neglected tent camp on Gaza’s southern coast that the Israeli military has declared a humanitarian zone.
Gaza’s over 2 million Palestinians are facing a severe humanitarian crisis. The 21-month conflict began when Hamas militants entered southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Of those, only fifty are still held, and it is believed that fewer than half are alive.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israel’s military offensive has resulted in more than 58,000 Palestinian deaths.
How is the aid crisis worsening in Gaza?
Palestinian health officials warned that hundreds may soon die as hospitals become overwhelmed with patients experiencing dizziness and exhaustion, resulting from food shortages and a collapse in aid deliveries.
Residents reported increasing difficulty in accessing basic foods like flour. The Gaza health ministry stated that at least 71 children have died from malnutrition during the war, while 60,000 others show signs of it. Food prices have risen so much that the majority of Gaza’s over two million residents cannot afford them.
The Hostages Family Forum, a grassroots group representing many hostage families, condemned the evacuation announcement. They demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli military clarify their objectives in central Gaza, accusing Israel of acting without a clear war strategy.
“Enough! The Israeli people overwhelmingly want an end to the fighting and a comprehensive agreement that will return all of the hostages,” the forum stated.
