Humanitarian Fears Mount as Israel Orders Mass Evacuation of Gaza City

By: Jeremiah Silva

The Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of all residents of Gaza City ahead of an expected ground offensive, sparking panic in the densely populated enclave and raising urgent warnings from aid groups of a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.

The directive, announced Tuesday, marks the first time Israel has sought to clear the entirety of Gaza City in the current conflict, effectively displacing 1 million people already battered by months of bombardment, scarcity, and famine.

Humanitarian agencies say the consequences could be catastrophic. Gaza is already facing widespread hunger, with six additional deaths from starvation reported Tuesday, bringing the official toll to 399 people dead from hunger since the war began.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the order, calling Gaza City the “last stronghold” of Hamas.

“I say to the residents of Gaza, take this opportunity and listen to me carefully: you have been warned – get out of there!” Netanyahu said.

Israel has directed residents to move south to al-Mawasi, a designated “humanitarian zone.” But aid workers stress that conditions there remain dire, with limited infrastructure to support mass displacement. Only around 50,000 people, a fraction of Gaza City’s population — have complied so far.

The evacuation order has drawn sharp criticism worldwide. International leaders and rights groups are warning that forcing civilians to leave a city already under siege amounts to collective punishment and risks triggering an even deeper humanitarian disaster. Calls for an immediate ceasefire have intensified, though Israel has given no indication it will halt its campaign.