Gaza — Israel on Tuesday ordered the immediate evacuation of Gaza City, sparking scenes of panic as families fled beneath the sound of drones and the looming threat of bombardment. Leaflets and text alerts warned nearly one million residents to relocate south to Al-Mawasi, marking one of the largest forced displacements since the start of the war, evoking memories of the Nakba remembered by Palestinians.
That coastal strip, presented by Israel as a “humanitarian zone,” is already dangerously overcrowded. Aid groups warn Al-Mawasi is no safe haven, with no reliable water, food, or medical infrastructure, pushing Palestinians into yet another cycle of suffering.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that those who stayed would face intensified strikes, while Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed rooftops would “shake” unless Hamas surrendered. Analysts say the rhetoric reflects a policy designed to empty Gaza City at any cost, reinforcing accusations of ethnic cleansing.
Hospitals across the enclave were ordered to evacuate, though doctors refused to abandon critical patients. Rights groups described Israel’s demand as a “death sentence.” The United Nations condemned Israel’s famine campaign as a man-made crisis, adding weight to calls that its tactics violate international law.
Since October 2023, when Hamas launched its attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis and led to the capture of 251 hostages, Israel’s military assault has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, and nearly all of Gaza’s population has been displaced. The staggering toll has fueled European momentum toward formal recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Diplomatic efforts in Doha, led by Qatar, collapsed following the evacuation order. Observers argue the directive exposes Israel’s preference for military escalation over negotiated solutions, further entrenching the view that the aim is demographic reengineering rather than defeating Hamas.
The humanitarian fallout has triggered international backlash. Genocide scholars confirmed Israel’s assault on Gaza meets the legal definition of genocide. At the same time, the man-made famine in Gaza has deepened suffering, with aid agencies warning of mass starvation. Journalists on the ground also issued an appeal, with AFP reporters in Gaza warning they will die without urgent intervention.
According to Reuters, the evacuation order and the panic it triggered were confirmed on September 9. Palestinians living in the ruins of Gaza City were bombarded with Israeli leaflets on Tuesday ordering them out, after Israel said it was about to obliterate the area in an assault to wipe out Hamas.
