Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged civilians to evacuate multiple neighborhoods in Gaza City — including al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, al-Sabra, al-Turkman, and the Old City — as well as northern towns such as Jabalia, Tal al-Zaatar, and Beit Lahia.

The army claimed that operations are increasing to “destroy enemy forces and hostile organizations” and that fighting is extending westward toward central Gaza. The declared “humanitarian safe zone” of al-Mawasi — a coastal strip — continues to receive evacuees, despite repeated Israeli strikes on displacement camps in the area.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that since March 18, Israeli forces have issued 54 evacuation orders, covering nearly 297 square kilometers, or 81% of the entire Gaza Strip. “With no safe zones, civilians are trapped in overcrowded shelters, damaged buildings, and exposed streets,” the report warned.

Devastation Amid Widespread Displacement

According to official statistics, the Israeli military campaign since October 7, 2023, has caused over 197,000 Palestinian casualties, with women and children making up the majority. More than 11,000 people remain missing, while starvation and lack of medical care continue to claim lives.

The International Court of Justice had previously ordered Israel to halt its military campaign in Gaza, but the operations have persisted, with U.S. backing cited by Palestinian sources.

Many of the newly designated evacuation areas had already been cleared multiple times in previous months, raising concerns over forced displacement and a pattern of permanent removal. Satellite images and eyewitness accounts confirm the destruction of residential infrastructure and humanitarian sites.

The humanitarian crisis is deepening, with international aid organizations calling for immediate ceasefires and unrestricted access to deliver food, water, and medical support to the population.