Israel Preparing to Order Gaza City Evacuation Amid Military Operation
The Israeli army is reportedly preparing to order a civilian evacuation of Gaza City in the coming days as part of a military operation to occupy the enclave’s largest city.
According to a report from Anadolu Agency, the military action is part of a plan referred to as “Operation Gideon’s Chariots II.” It is planned to proceed in two phases. The first phase, scheduled for next week, involves a large-scale aerial fire campaign. This will be followed by a ground offensive aimed at achieving full operational control of Gaza City. The article notes that Israeli army Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, has already visited the Gaza perimeter to review the plan and confirm the expanded operations.
The move comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the acceleration of plans to reoccupy the Gaza Strip on August 20. This decision has been made despite international warnings about the potential for the “total destruction” of the enclave and an increase in the suffering and displacement of Palestinians. The report highlights that since October 2023, the military campaign has resulted in the deaths of over 64,200 Palestinians in Gaza, and the region is now facing a severe famine.
In the meantime, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called the claim that Palestinians’ displacement is voluntary “nonsense.” Israel has urged Gaza City residents to move south to a so-called “humanitarian zone” in Al-Mawasi ahead of a planned ground offensive, without giving a timeline to maintain surprise. The Israeli military said Al-Mawasi has medical facilities, water, food, and ongoing relief efforts in coordination with the UN, despite having struck the area repeatedly, targeting Hamas fighters. Gaza residents expressed despair, saying bombings and death follow them wherever they go, making evacuation seem futile. Meanwhile, the US is reportedly in deep negotiations with Hamas over hostages. The UN warned of a looming disaster with nearly one million people still in Gaza City, where famine has been declared. Israel’s offensive has displaced millions and caused tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials.
