DEYAL AL BARA, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli troops were called to Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday to move to designated humanitarian areas in the south as they expanded their operations in preparation for the seizure A city struck by hunger. Includes targeting of skyscrapers.
Parts of the city are home to nearly a million people, and are already considered a “red zone,” with evacuation orders issued before the expected attack.
Aid groups have repeatedly warned that a massive evacuation of Gaza city would exacerbate the dire humanitarian situation after it was declared by a major global authority on the food crisis. A city grabbed by hungerPalestinians were uprooted and evacuated many times during almost two years of war, and are too weak to move, making them unable to go anywhere.
Israeli military instructs residents to move to the “human belt”
Israeli military spokesman Avichey Adrie wrote in X that the Army declared the Mwasi (tent camps arranged between the southern Gaza Strip) in humanitarian areas, urging everyone in the city, calling it a Hamas base and designated. As a battle zoneI’m leaving. The Army said it could drive along designated roads without being searched.
In a statement, the military provided a map to the Khan Eynth area that envelops humanitarian areas, including the block where Nassar Hospital is located. The area around the hospital is not the medical facility itself, but is considered a red zone. last week, Israel attacked the hospitalkilled 22 people, including Mariam Dagga, who worked for the Associated Press and other media. The hospital was not evacuated.
The designated safe zone will include field hospitals, water pipelines, food, tents and “continuously and continuously in cooperation with the United Nations and international organizations,” the statement said.
The declaration of the so-called “human belt” in southern Gaza was unilaterally made by Israeli authorities, with the UN and the wider humanitarian community not part of its designation, said Olga Celevko, a spokesman for the UN Humanitarian Agreement coordination.
Israeli forces struck such humanitarian areas during the war. Muwashi, According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, they had previously declared a safe zone.
Israel issued warnings on Saturday for two skyscrapers in Gaza city and tents around it, Hamas said there is infrastructure inside or near it. It comes a day after Israel raided another skyscraper in Gaza city and said Hamas used it for surveillance without providing evidence.
Despite Israeli warnings, many Palestinians in Gaza City say they will not leave. “Do they order us to leave from one town to another? What are we going to do with our children? People who are sick, or those with elderly or injured, where are we going to take them?” said the woman who identified herself as Um Haitham.
Hostage family appeals to Trump
It also caused an Israeli attack Wide protests Among Israelis fear that it will put the hostages still held in Gaza at risk, some of which are believed to be in Gaza city. There are 48 such hostages, of which 20 believe Israel is alive. Hamas has released a propaganda video of two hostages from Gaza City. This video shows Guy Gilboa Dalal, who was joined at one point by another hostage Aron Owell.
Hostage families say the government has not prioritized their loved ones.
On Saturday, hostage families thanked Trump and his mission, Steve Witkov, for their “unwavering determination, courage and compassion” they continued to negotiate the ceasefire. A statement released by the Hostage and Missing Family Forum said Trump demonstrates that “true leadership is measured by bold decisions.”
So far, the lasting ceasefire has been elusive. Last month, Hamas said he had accepted the proposal. From an Arab intermediary For a ceasefire. Israel has not responded yet, saying it is still committed to defeating extremist groups.
Israel says the war will continue until all hostages are returned and Hamas is disarmed, and it will maintain free security controls on the territory of around 2 million Palestinians. Hamas said that in return for Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, they would only release the remaining hostages.
The war began after Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people and acquitted 251 people on October 7, 2023 in an attack on southern Israel. Most were then released by ceasefires or other agreements.
Israeli retaliatory attacks have killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. The United Nations and independent experts consider it the most reliable source of information on victims of war. Israel disputes the figures, but does not provide its own.
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Mrou reported from Beirut.
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