Israeli army issues new evacuation orders for northern Gaza
Israeli army soldiers ride in a humvee convoy in the Upper Galilee region of northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on October 10, 2024. - Israel expanded operations in Lebanon nearly a year after Hezbollah began exchanging fire in support of its ally, Hamas, following the Palestinian group's deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. (AFP Photo)
The Israeli army on Saturday ordered residents of northern Gaza to evacuate their homes and head south as military operations in the region intensified.
Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged civilians to evacuate immediately using Salah al-Din Street, designating it a route to what he described as a “safe humanitarian zone.”
Israeli military escalation in northern Gaza
The evacuation order follows a surge in Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, particularly affecting densely populated northern areas. Israeli forces warned that the region, known as D5, would be subjected to continued military action, prompting the urgent call for civilians to relocate.
Civilian casualties, displacement
The ongoing conflict, triggered by a cross-border incursion by Hamas on Oct. 7 in 2023, has resulted in over 42,100 deaths, the majority of whom are women and children, according to local health authorities.
Additionally, more than 98,100 people have been injured. The conflict has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza, exacerbating shortages of essential supplies, including food, clean water and medical resources.
International scrutiny, legal actions
The Israeli government faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice, prompted by its military actions in Gaza. Despite a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire, Israeli operations have continued, intensifying the humanitarian crisis in the region.
