Israel has said it will begin moving Palestinians from Gaza City to the south of the territory starting Sunday, in what it describes as an evacuation from “combat zones.” The announcement was made by the army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, who said tents and shelters would be provided with help from the United Nations and aid groups. However, the UN has not confirmed its role in the plan.
The move comes less than a week after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s army had been given the green light to “dismantle” the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza City and al-Mawasi. Gaza City is home to nearly one million people, and it is unclear where they would all go. Rafah, near the border with Egypt, may be one of the destinations.
Palestinian groups strongly condemned the plan. Islamic Jihad called it “a blatant mockery of international conventions” and said it was part of Israel’s “brutal attack” to seize Gaza City.
Meanwhile, deadly attacks continue. On Saturday, an Israeli strike hit tents in al-Mawasi, an area earlier declared a “safe zone.” A family of three, including a baby girl, was killed. A neighbour asked, “Two and a half months, what has she done?”
The humanitarian crisis is worsening by the day. Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 61,827 people have been killed since October 2023. Starvation is now widespread, with 251 deaths from malnutrition, including 11 in the past 24 hours alone. Director-General Munir al-Bursh said 40,000 infants are suffering from severe malnutrition.
Hospitals are struggling. At al-Shifa Hospital, over 200 patients’ lives are at risk due to lack of medicine and food. Doctors are forced to perform amputations because infections cannot be treated. The World Health Organization says more than 14,800 patients need urgent care that Gaza cannot provide.
The crisis has spread beyond Gaza. A 20-year-old woman flown to Italy for treatment died just days after arrival due to extreme malnutrition.
Inside Israel, families of 50 hostages still held in Gaza are also suffering. Recently released videos showed them begging for food. Families are urging protests to demand their release.
Despite international concern, Netanyahu has defended the military operation, saying he has “no choice” but to press ahead. But for civilians in Gaza, the reality is one of bombs, hunger, and displacement, with no safe place left to go.
