In brief
The Israeli military has warned Palestinians in Gaza City that they must evacuate as military forces prepare for direct confrontations with Hamas. Families moving south will reportedly receive 'generous humanitarian aid'. Despite the evacuations, the humanitarian crisis continues to escalate amid ongoing violence.
The Israeli military has told Palestinians that the evacuation of Gaza City is 'inevitable', as its forces prepare to conquer it.
In a post on X on Wednesday, the military's Arabic spokesman Avichay Adraee stated that families relocating to the south would 'receive the most generous humanitarian aid'.
Israeli tanks advanced into a new area of Gaza City overnight, compelling more residents to flee, with thousands already moving due to recent advances — primarily to other parts of the city, where nearly a million Palestinians are still living.
This evacuation directive coincides with US President Donald Trump’s imminent meeting at the White House to discuss a post-war proposal for Gaza.
The evacuation comes after Israel's announcement in early August to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, marking Gaza City as Hamas’s final stronghold.
The UN and various NGOs have cautioned that an Israeli offensive in Gaza City could lead to catastrophic humanitarian conditions.
Tanks reportedly entered the Ibad al-Rahman district late Tuesday, destroying homes, according to Reuters.
'All at once, the sounds of explosions increased, and we saw people fleeing towards our area,' resident Saad Abed reported.
On Wednesday, the tanks were said to have retreated to Jabalia, further north, where they remained operational, while bombings persisted in the Shejaiya, Zeitoun, and Sabra districts of Gaza City.
The Israeli military confirmed engagements in the Jabalia area, claiming to have eliminated a 'terrorist cell' and found a weapons storage site.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confessed that the full occupation of Gaza emerged from failed indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas, amidst growing domestic and international pressure for a ceasefire and the return of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, with only 20 of the 50 hostages believed alive.
On the US front, special envoy Steve Witkoff indicated that discussions regarding a detailed plan for post-war Gaza would take place at the large White House assembly led by Trump on Wednesday. He hinted at a resolution of the conflict 'one way or another, certainly before year-end'.
The Israeli military operation was initiated in retaliation for the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages. Since then, reports estimate nearly 62,900 deaths in Gaza, with the majority of its population facing repeated displacements. Moreover, over 90% of the housing is said to be either damaged or destroyed, leading to a collapse of healthcare and sanitation systems and confirming famine in Gaza City.
