Israeli military issues new evacuation order covering all of northern Gaza
The Israeli military has issued evacuation orders for large swaths of northern Gaza, ordering residents to flee to the already overcrowded “humanitarian zone” in al-Mawasi.
The Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee told people in northern Gaza Hamas had established “terrorist infrastructure in your region, exploiting the population, shelters, and health facilities as a human shield”.
He said the Israeli military will “continue to operate forcefully against terrorist organisations”, without offering information about specific operations planned.
Adraee ordered people to use the “open humanitarian transportation and evacuation routes towards the humanitarian area in al-Mawasi, which are Rashid Street (the sea) and Salah El-Din Street”.
COGAT announces ‘expansion’ of al-Mawasi ‘humanitarian zone’
The al-Mawasi “humanitarian area” in southern Gaza has been expanded, the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has announced.
The Israeli government agency, responsible for overseeing civilian policy in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, posted a map of the existing area with more than a dozen zones added.
“The expanded Humanitarian Area includes field hospitals that have been established since the outbreak of the war, tent compounds, and supplies of food, water, medicine, and medical equipment,” the post said.
Earlier, we reported the Israeli military had issued a new evacuation order for almost the entirety of northern Gaza, telling the civilian population there to flee to al-Mawasi.
The Israeli military has repeatedly attacked displacement camps in al-Mawasi despite its humanitarian designation, killing many Palestinians.
The bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli attack on al-Mawasi are brought to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on September 16
‘We will not leave northern Gaza’
Israeli tanks pushed into the northern Gaza areas of Beit Lahiya and Jabalia overnight and warplanes bombed several houses, killing and wounding many Palestinians.
In one air strike, 10 people were killed in one house and five others in another. Residents described it as one of the worst nights in months. Palestinian and UN officials say no place in the enclave is safe, including the “humanitarian zones” where Israeli missiles have hit numerous times.
“The war is back,” said Raed, 52, from Jabalia, before he and his family left for Gaza City.
“Dozens of explosions from air strikes and tank shelling shook the ground and buildings, it felt like the early days of the war.” Asked whether they would go to al-Mawasi as the army ordered, he replied: “As if they didn’t kill people displaced in the so-called humanitarian areas? We will not leave northern Gaza.”
People in north Gaza urged to ignore Israeli evacuation orders
Gaza’s Interior Ministry called on Palestinian civilians living in northern Gaza to ignore Israel’s orders to evacuate and move south.
“Israeli claims about the presence of safe zones in southern Gaza are lies as Israel commits crimes and massacres in all areas of the enclave,” the ministry said in a statement. “We call on citizens in northern Gaza to ignore Israeli threats.”
The Israeli army issued new evacuation orders on Sunday for Palestinian civilians in northern Gaza to leave their homes and move to areas designated by the Israeli army as “safe zones” in central and southern Gaza.
