Israel Prepares to Relocate Residents to Southern Gaza

Israel Prepares to Relocate Residents to Southern Gaza
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The Israeli military is preparing to relocate residents from combat zones in northern Gaza to “safe” areas in the south, Arab News reported citing military spokesperson Avichay Adraee. In a post on X, Adraee said that tents and other equipment will be transferred via the Kerem Shalom crossing, with assistance from the United Nations and other international relief organizations.

This announcement follows Israel’s stated intention to launch a new offensive to seize control of northern Gaza City. The move has raised international alarm over the fate of the 2.2 million people living in the area. According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel has no choice but to complete the job of defeating Hamas, which has refused to disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is established.

The war began in October 2023 with a Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel’s military assault has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The conflict has also led to a hunger crisis and the internal displacement of the entire Gaza population. Israel is facing accusations of genocide and war crimes at international courts, which it denies.