Israel orders evacuations in Gaza after rocket fire from militants

The Israeli military has ordered evacuations in northwest Gaza following rocket fire from Palestinian militants targeting the Israeli town of Ashkelon. This directive comes after a recent rocket attack that triggered air raid sirens in Ashkelon, with the military intercepting one projectile while another fell into the sea. The evacuation orders are part of a broader strategy that began in the early weeks of the ongoing conflict, which was ignited by Hamas's attack on October 7. Initially, Israel ordered the evacuation of all northern Gaza, including its largest city, leading to a mass exodus of residents heading south. However, despite these orders, approximately 300,000 individuals remain in the northern region, which has faced extensive destruction due to Israeli air and ground operations. The area has been largely isolated and surrounded by Israeli forces since October, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The ongoing conflict has displaced around 90% of Gaza's population, which totals approximately 2.3 million people. Many of these displaced individuals have been forced to relocate multiple times, leading to overcrowded conditions in tent camps along the coast, where public services are severely lacking. As the situation continues to evolve, the humanitarian implications are dire, with hundreds of thousands of people facing inadequate living conditions and limited access to essential services. The conflict's escalation highlights the urgent need for a resolution to prevent further suffering among the civilian population in Gaza.