Israeli military orders all residents of Gaza City to evacuate immediately

The Israeli military has issued sweeping evacuation orders to all residents of Gaza City, warning it plans to operate in the area with “great force.” The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman urged people in every neighbourhood to relocate to designated humanitarian zones. Israel’s decision could see up to one million people displaced, although the United Nations has said no area in Gaza can be considered truly safe. The order follows last month’s approval by Israel’s security cabinet of a plan to take control of Gaza’s most populous city, a move widely condemned by world leaders.

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Gaza City, located in the north of the enclave, has become a central refuge throughout the war as people fled attacks elsewhere. Hundreds of thousands have been living in makeshift tents, but recent satellite images show many of these shelters have been destroyed in Israeli strikes. International news organisations, including the BBC, remain barred from reporting freely inside Gaza. Despite the evacuation orders, many residents remain reluctant to move due to overcrowded conditions in the south, a shortage of hospital capacity, and the lack of safe shelter. Israel’s intensified assault has raised urgent humanitarian concerns, with conditions in the city worsening rapidly.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza City is reaching new extremes as evacuation orders coincide with warnings of famine. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a UN-backed hunger monitoring body, recently declared that residents of Gaza City are experiencing famine conditions defined by “starvation, destitution, and death.” Around half a million people in the area are said to be suffering from acute hunger, with aid severely restricted and food supplies critically low. Strikes have destroyed vital infrastructure, while displacement camps set up in Gaza City have also come under attack.

Satellite imagery shows that rows of tents sheltering displaced families have vanished in recent weeks following Israeli bombardments. Many residents are torn between staying in dangerous conditions or attempting to move south, where hospitals are overwhelmed and space for new arrivals is scarce. The evacuation orders have further compounded the fear and uncertainty facing civilians, many of whom have been displaced multiple times since the conflict began.

Global condemnation of Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City has grown, with calls for restraint and humanitarian protection. Yet the reality on the ground is increasingly dire, with civilians caught between military operations, famine, and the absence of any truly safe refuge.

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