Israeli army orders new evacuations in central, southern Gaza Strip

ANKARA (AA) – The Israeli army has issued new evacuation orders for residents in several areas of central and southern Gaza Strip, which were previously designated as “humanitarian safe zones.”

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee announced that residents of Blocks 89-2356 in the neighborhoods of east Deir al-Balah and those in the neighborhoods of al-Qarara, al-Mawasi, al-Jalaa, Hamad City, and al-Nasser in Khan Younis are required to evacuate. The army claims that these areas are “dangerous combat zones” due to alleged ‘Hamas operations.’

Previously, some of these areas, such as Al-Mawasi, were designated as “humanitarian safe zones” for displaced Palestinians amid the ruthless ongoing Israeli offensive on Gaza.

According to international humanitarian organization Oxfam, over 1.7 million displaced Palestinians are currently residing in the Al-Mawasi area and its surroundings, which constitutes less than one-fifth of Gaza’s territory.

The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has stated that new evacuation orders have been issued by Israeli authorities, even within the so-called “humanitarian zones.” “Fear spreads as families have nowhere to go,” UNRWA added, describing the situation as an “endless nightmare of death and destruction on a staggering scale.”

On Tuesday, UNRWA reported that approximately 84% of Gaza’s territory has been under evacuation orders since October 7.

Israel’s ongoing genocidal war has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths and has left vast areas of Gaza in ruins, exacerbated by a severe blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.