Israel Orders Gaza City Evacuation Amid Imminent Offensive

The Israeli military has declared that the evacuation of residents from Gaza City is inevitable. The military's Arabic-language spokesperson announced on a social media platform that "the evacuation of Gaza City is unavoidable." Each household moving south will receive "the most abundant humanitarian aid." The military has begun transporting tents and setting up distribution points for humanitarian aid.

The military's announcement comes amid reports of large-scale military mobilization and preparations for an imminent offensive. Reports indicate that residents of Gaza City, including members of the Christian community, need to evacuate and move to the southern part of Gaza. The military has issued evacuation orders for multiple areas in Gaza City, with intense bombardment continuing. The takeover operation is still underway.

The military's plan, approved by the security cabinet, involves controlling Gaza City and evacuating all Palestinian civilians by October 7. An anonymous Israeli official revealed that the plan includes "evacuating all Palestinian civilians from Gaza City by October 7." The military aims to first adopt a strategy of evacuating civilians before launching a full-scale attack on the city.

The military's actions have led to the destruction of entire neighborhoods in Gaza City. Tanks and warplanes have leveled entire streets, destroying not only buildings but also deliberately clearing and emptying residential areas. The use of artillery in the eastern part of Gaza City has increased, destroying civilian infrastructure.

The military's humanitarian efforts include providing tents and setting up distribution points for aid. However, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with over half a million people facing starvation. The military's actions have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with residents facing severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. The military's humanitarian efforts are seen as insufficient to address the needs of the displaced population.

Meanwhile, over 350,000 citizens took to the streets in Tel Aviv, demanding an end to the conflict in Gaza and the release of hostages. This protest, dubbed "National Struggle Day," was the second large-scale demonstration organized by hostage families in two weeks, following a similar protest involving 500,000 participants the previous week. Protesters blocked major highways around Tel Aviv, using burning tires as barricades. Some demonstrators gathered outside government officials' residences and the prime minister's office, as well as near the Israel Defense Forces headquarters.

Hostage families criticized the government for abandoning its citizens and disregarding the safety of the hostages. The father of a hostage, who remains in Gaza, condemned the government for pursuing military operations in Gaza despite the availability of a hostage release agreement. He accused the prime minister of betraying the hostage families and the nation. The hostage, along with his brother, was kidnapped and taken to Gaza in October 2023. While his brother was released in February, he remains captive.

Hostage families announced a shift in their protest strategy, planning daily demonstrations outside the residences of the prime minister and cabinet members. They also intend to disrupt the movements of cabinet members and hold protests during cabinet meetings. Concurrently, the prime minister and the security cabinet convened to discuss the situation in Gaza. Despite Hamas accepting a ceasefire proposal brokered by Qatar and Egypt, the security cabinet did not address this proposal. The prime minister reiterated the intention to proceed with the military plan to occupy Gaza City, aiming to compel Hamas to accept Israel's conditions for a comprehensive agreement. Israel demands that Hamas disarm and release all hostages in one go.

Currently, Israel is preparing for a full-scale assault on Gaza City, the largest city in the Gaza Strip. The military asserts that Gaza City and its surrounding areas remain strongholds for Hamas, with an extensive network of underground tunnels. Gaza City is home to 1 million Palestinians seeking refuge, and the international community, along with the United Nations, has warned that Israel's actions could result in a more severe humanitarian disaster.