Israel Orders Palestinians to Leave Gaza City as Military Advances

Photo : Reuters

The Israeli military has warned residents of Gaza City to move south, as it continues its operations across the city. The warning came on Saturday, with the military urging Palestinians to leave for safer areas amid ongoing fighting.

For weeks, Israeli forces have been conducting an offensive in the northern suburbs of Gaza City. This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the army to capture the city, which he calls a stronghold of Hamas. Netanyahu says taking control of Gaza City is key to defeating Hamas, the militant group whose October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the ongoing conflict.

The operation threatens to displace hundreds of thousands of people who are already sheltering in the city. Before the war, Gaza City was home to about one million people, nearly half of Gaza’s total population. Many residents had already been forced to flee earlier in the conflict, only to return later. Some have said they will refuse to leave again.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee told residents on social media platform X that they should move to a designated area in southern Gaza, specifically the coastal region of Khan Younis. He assured that people who flee there would receive food, medical help, and shelter.

The military said on Thursday that it had gained control of almost half of Gaza City. Overall, it claims to control roughly 75 percent of Gaza. In recent weeks, Israeli forces have carried out heavy strikes on the city’s outskirts and are now only a few kilometres from the city centre.

Reports from Israeli officials indicate that Netanyahu ordered the capture of Gaza City despite the advice of some of the country’s military leaders. The military has mobilized tens of thousands of reservists to support the operation, reflecting the scale and intensity of the campaign.

The ongoing war has also left Israel increasingly isolated on the diplomatic stage. Some of its closest allies have condemned the campaign, citing the devastation it has caused across the small territory of Gaza.

Within Israel, there are growing calls from families of hostages and their supporters to find a diplomatic solution that would secure the release of the remaining 48 captives. Israeli officials say they believe 20 of the hostages are still alive. Netanyahu has insisted on an all-or-nothing deal: Hamas must release all hostages at once and surrender in order for the conflict to end.

Israeli military leaders report that they have killed many of Hamas’ top leaders and thousands of its fighters, leaving the group reduced to a guerrilla force operating in parts of the territory. Hamas, which has controlled Gaza for nearly two decades, has proposed releasing some hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire. Similar negotiations took place in July but failed after mediation by the US and several Arab states collapsed.

Hamas has maintained that it will release all hostages only if Israel ends the war and withdraws all its forces from Gaza. Many of the hostages freed so far were released through diplomatic negotiations. However, both sides have accused each other of acting in bad faith, complicating efforts for a peaceful resolution.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated on Friday that military operations in Gaza would continue and intensify until Hamas agrees to Israel’s demands. These demands include releasing the hostages and disarming the group. If Hamas refuses, Katz said, the military will continue its campaign until Hamas is destroyed.

The situation in Gaza City is becoming increasingly tense, with civilians caught in the middle of a large-scale military offensive. Humanitarian concerns are rising, as the potential displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents could worsen the already dire conditions in the area. Aid organizations and local authorities are concerned about access to food, water, medical supplies, and shelter for those forced to move south.

This latest phase of the conflict shows the determination of both sides. Israel is focused on its goal to weaken Hamas and secure the release of hostages, while Hamas continues to resist surrender, leveraging hostages as bargaining tools in ongoing negotiations.

As the battle for Gaza City intensifies, experts warn that the city could face significant destruction. Residents face difficult choices: flee to the south as advised, risking a long and dangerous journey, or stay in their homes amid the increasing violence. The coming days are expected to be critical in shaping the course of the conflict and its humanitarian impact.