SAEDNEWS: The Israeli occupation army on Tuesday ordered the forced evacuation of nearly one million Palestinians from Gaza City, warning of a large-scale assault as part of its ongoing campaign of destruction against the besieged enclave.
The Israeli army has escalated its offensive in Gaza, with forces determined to “eliminate Hamas” and operate in Gaza City “with great force,” according to army spokesman Avichay Adraee, who announced the orders on the US-based platform X. Residents were instructed to flee “immediately via Al-Rashid Street toward Al-Mawasi,” with warnings that remaining in the city would be “extremely dangerous.”
Hours after the evacuation order, a new wave of Israeli airstrikes and artillery barrages swept across the Gaza Strip. Medical officials report at least 11 people killed, with more than 25 trapped under rubble. In Rafah, six civilians died while waiting for aid, and five more were killed when Israeli forces fired on aid seekers in Khan Younis.
Gaza’s Civil Defense also reported that a house sheltering displaced families in the Shati refugee camp was shelled, injuring many and trapping dozens beneath the debris. In Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan district, the Israeli army reportedly detonated multiple homes using booby-trapped robots, while heavy artillery continued pounding Khan Younis and the Bureij refugee camp.
The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed that at least 64,605 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its full-scale war in October 2023. In the past 24 hours alone, hospitals received 83 bodies and 223 wounded, raising the total number of injured to 163,319. Many victims remain trapped under rubble or on the streets, as rescue teams struggle to reach them.
The ministry also reported 14 Palestinians killed and 37 wounded while seeking humanitarian aid in the last day, bringing the total death toll of Palestinians targeted during aid distribution to 2,444 since May 27. Starvation deaths continue to mount under Israel’s total blockade, with six more people — including children — dying of malnutrition in the past 24 hours, pushing the famine-related death toll to 399, including 140 children.
Since March 2, Israel has sealed all border crossings, cutting off Gaza’s 2.4 million residents from food and medicine, driving the territory into famine despite the UN’s official classification of Gaza as a famine zone. Attacks resumed on March 18, killing more than 12,000 and wounding over 51,000, shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal reached in January.
International legal bodies are also scrutinizing Israel’s actions. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former war minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes in Gaza. Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice is reviewing accusations of genocide against the Palestinian people.
