Israel’s military has ordered all residents of Gaza City to evacuate immediately, potentially affecting up to one million Palestinians in the territory’s largest urban area.
The Israel Defense Forces Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced the evacuation order on social media platform X, directing residents to leave “from the Old City and Tafah to the east and up to the sea to the west” via the Al-Rashid axis towards the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone.
“The defence forces are determined to defeat Hamas and will act with great force in the Gaza City area,” Adraee stated, warning that “remaining in the area is extremely dangerous.”
Military warns of operations with “great force” against Hamas
The evacuation order follows Israel’s security cabinet approval last month of plans to take control of Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians currently reside. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said more than 50 buildings had been destroyed by Israeli air strikes in recent days, describing it as “only the beginning of the main, intensive operation.”
Israeli forces distributed leaflets throughout Gaza City containing evacuation maps and evacuation instructions. The military has conducted increased air strikes in and around Gaza City in recent days, including overnight operations targeting residential areas.
Up to one million residents directed to southern humanitarian zone
Israel has designated al-Mawasi as a humanitarian safe zone where it pledges to provide food and medical aid. However, the United Nations has repeatedly stated that no area in Gaza can be considered safe, with designated safe zones experiencing repeated bombardment during the conflict.
The Hamas-run health ministry reported six additional deaths from malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing total malnutrition deaths to 399, including 140 children. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, backed by the United Nations, determined in August that Gaza City residents face famine conditions characterised by “starvation, destitution, and death,” affecting approximately 500,000 people.
Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians currently live in tents throughout Gaza City after fleeing attacks elsewhere. BBC Verify satellite analysis shows rows of these temporary shelters have disappeared following recent Israeli strikes.
Southern Gaza hospitals remain overwhelmed with limited shelter capacity, contributing to resident reluctance to evacuate despite military warnings.
Since October 2023, at least 63,000 people have been killed and over 161,000 wounded across Gaza, according to health authorities. Israel’s military campaign began after Hamas led an incursion into southern Israel, killing 1,139 people and taking more than 200 captive.
The Hamas-run health ministry, staffed by medical professionals, does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children comprise around half of the dead. UN agencies and independent experts consider the ministry’s figures the most reliable casualty estimates. Israel disputes them but has not provided its own toll.
Famine has been officially confirmed for the first time in Gaza as of August 2025, marking the first time famine has been officially declared in the Middle East.
Experts, governments, United Nations agencies, and non-governmental organisations have accused Israel of carrying out genocide against the Palestinian people. The International Association of Genocide Scholars has declared that Israel’s actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide under international law.
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