Israeli forces have killed at least 41 people in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, including 12 individuals seeking humanitarian aid. In parallel, the Israeli army has ordered the evacuation of Gaza City’s population ahead of a new planned military offensive. Air strikes have intensified on the city, hitting even high-rise buildings. The Israeli army’s Arab spokesman, Avichay Adraee, released a message urging residents to leave: “For your safety, take the time to protect yourself and your families,” accompanied by images of crowds fleeing Gaza City.
For weeks, Israel has been trying to relocate about 1 million residents of Gaza City to the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, in the south of the territory. However, according to United Nations data, so far only about 50,000 people have agreed to leave, while the rest refuse, not trusting Israeli promises about the security of the new zone.
"There is no safe zone in Gaza. Danger is everywhere," Fawzi Muftah, one of the residents opposing the move, told the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has condemned the evacuation order as unlawful, cruel and a worsening of the genocidal conditions facing Palestinians. The Middle East and North Africa Director, Heba Morayef, said: “The mass displacement order is ruthless, unlawful and exacerbates the genocidal conditions that Israel is inflicting on Palestinians.”
The humanitarian situation has deteriorated sharply. Gaza City is facing a deep hunger crisis due to the Israeli aid blockade. In the last 24 hours alone, five people have died of starvation, bringing the total number of food-related deaths in the past 23 months to 404. Humanitarians warn that forced displacement and the blockade will further worsen the situation, as al-Mawasi is already overcrowded and does not have the capacity to accommodate 1 million more people.
Internationally, criticism of Israel is mounting. The recent Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar has been described by many countries as a violation of sovereignty, further isolating Israel.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for sanctions and a partial suspension of trade with Israel, stressing: “Man-made hunger can never be a weapon of war. For children and for humanity, this must stop.” However, it is not clear whether all 27 EU member states would support such a decision, as some countries such as Germany and Hungary have spoken out against previous similar measures.
On the other hand, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that calls for sanctions "will encourage Hamas."
According to the latest figures, since the start of the war in October 2023, more than 64,600 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli offensive, while many more bodies continue to remain under the rubble.
