Gaza City
Palestinians in Gaza City faced widespread panic on Tuesday after Israeli forces dropped leaflets ordering residents to evacuate ahead of a planned assault aimed at eradicating Hamas in the city. The coastal enclave, once home to a million people, has been heavily damaged by months of airstrikes, leaving tens of thousands displaced and many buildings in ruins. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged civilians to leave immediately, warning of the impending military offensive, while Defence Minister Israel Katz promised a “mighty hurricane” if Hamas did not release hostages.
Residents expressed fear and confusion, noting there were few safe places to go. Some said they would flee south toward the overcrowded Al-Mawasi area, while others vowed to stay amid the rubble. Gaza health authorities announced evacuation plans for the city’s two main hospitals, Al Shifa and Al Ahli, ensuring patients would not be abandoned.
The Israeli military has called up tens of thousands of reservists and claimed control over 40% of the city’s outskirts. The proposed operation could hinder ongoing ceasefire talks and exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation, with food shortages and repeated displacements affecting the population.
International criticism of Israel’s plan has intensified, with human rights groups warning of potential mass casualties. Netanyahu has justified the offensive as a defensive measure against Hamas, which continues to hold hostages and demands the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as a condition for disarmament and release.
The situation remains tense, with no clear resolution in sight, and civilians caught between military objectives and humanitarian crises.