Israel orders complete evacuation of Gaza City amid military escalation

In recent developments in Gaza, Israeli military actions have escalated dramatically as the government has ordered a complete evacuation of Gaza City, which is home to approximately one million Palestinians. This directive was explicitly communicated by Avichay Adraee, the spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), who stated that residents should evacuate for their safety. Leaflets have been distributed throughout the city, providing directions for residents to move towards a designated humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi, encouraging them to travel westward to the coast before heading south. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reinforced the urgency of the evacuation, suggesting that military operations will intensify in Gaza City. On the ground, airstrikes targeting high-rise buildings in this urban area have been ramped up as part of Israel’s military strategy to occupy Gaza’s largest city. The operation aims to eradicate Hamas, which Israel has implicated in ongoing conflict. Currently, Israeli forces claim to control around 40% of Gaza City, indicating significant military presence and actions aimed at complete takeover. However, the evacuation process is not progressing as anticipated. Reports indicate that only about 70,000 Palestinians have evacuated, representing less than 10% of the city's total population. In this context, aid infrastructure is struggling to keep pace; the provision of tents has been particularly insufficient, with only 3,000 tents having entered Gaza, against a goal of 100,000 tents within three weeks. This inadequacy raises concerns about the humanitarian situation as thousands remain in dire need of shelter and assistance during military operations. Additionally, the United States and Israeli officials have been planning to expand humanitarian aid distribution sites managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), from four to sixteen locations. However, it remains unclear if these new sites have been established and are operational. As military actions continue, there is a growing sentiment among some Gaza City residents, who express a preference to stay in their homes amid the conflict, fearing further displacement.