Importance Score: 85 / 100 🟢
Israeli Military Issues Major Evacuation Order in Southern Gaza
The Israeli military has announced a significant new evacuation order for the southern Gaza Strip, marking the largest such directive since the resumption of its offensive in the Palestinian territory earlier this month. This latest order impacts residents of Rafah and parts of adjacent Khan Younis, compelling them to immediately relocate to the designated al-Mawasi humanitarian zone. The military has stated its forces are “returning to intense operations to dismantle the capabilities of terrorist organisations” within these areas.
Growing Displacement in Rafah and Khan Younis
Palestinians who had returned to their residences in Rafah during the recent two-month ceasefire between Israel and Hamas are now once again being displaced. It is estimated that approximately one-fifth of Gaza is currently under evacuation orders.
UN Raises Concerns Over Evacuation Compliance
The United Nations human rights office last week voiced serious concerns that the evacuations are not in accordance with international law. They accused Israel of failing to provide adequate accommodations for those displaced, nor ensuring satisfactory hygiene, health, safety, and nutritional conditions in designated areas.
Israel Justifies Evacuation Measures
The Israeli government maintains that it is evacuating civilians to protect them from Hamas militants, who they allege are using them as human shields, a practice condemned as a violation of international law. The Israeli military has repeatedly asserted it is taking all feasible measures to minimize civilian casualties during its operations.
Escalation of Hostilities
Israel recommenced its air and ground campaign against Hamas on March 18th, attributing the renewed conflict to the Palestinian armed group’s rejection of a recent US proposal to extend the ceasefire and secure the release of the remaining 59 hostages held in Gaza. Conversely, Hamas has accused Israel of breaching the original agreement established in January.
Gaza Casualties and Humanitarian Situation
According to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory, over 1,000 individuals in Gaza have been killed since the resumption of hostilities. The UN further reports critical shortages of food and medical supplies for the 2.1 million residents of Gaza, as Israel has reportedly blocked humanitarian aid deliveries to the territory since March 2nd.
Rafah Operations and Border Buffer Zone
Israel initiated a substantial operation in Rafah, situated on the border with Egypt, last May, resulting in widespread destruction. Despite the devastation, tens of thousands of displaced individuals returned to their damaged homes in the city during the ceasefire period.
During their previous operation in Rafah, Israeli forces established control over a strategic buffer zone along the Egyptian border and did not withdraw as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement. Israel has stated that maintaining a presence in this zone is essential to prevent the smuggling of weaponry into Gaza and to hinder Hamas from rearming.
Personal Accounts of Displacement
Haifa Duhair, a displaced Rafah resident, recounted being compelled to flee on foot with her infant daughter and three other young children on Monday due to the lack of available transportation.
“We went home two months ago… even though the house is destroyed, with shrapnel in it and the windows broken,” she told Reuters news agency.
“[My] girl was born in the tent, and today they ordered the displacement for all of Rafah,” she added, “Half of our children walked in front of us and the other half stayed with us. May God help us.”
Ongoing Military Actions and Casualties
Simultaneously, reports indicate continued deadly air strikes across Gaza as the Israeli military states it is targeting Hamas operatives.
The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported that eight individuals, including three children and two women, were killed when a house was struck in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, in northern Gaza. Footage from a Khan Younis hospital depicted a young boy among several fatalities.
Military Claims Operations Success
The Israeli military reported that troops conducting operations to expand the “security perimeter” in northern and central Gaza dismantled a 1km-long underground tunnel belonging to Hamas and neutralized over 50 individuals they described as “terrorists.”
Context of the Conflict
The Israeli military initiated its campaign to dismantle Hamas following an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 were taken hostage. According to the Gaza health ministry, the ensuing conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 50,350 people in Gaza.