Residents of Gaza City urged to evacuate by Israeli military

The ongoing conflict in Gaza City continues to escalate, with the Israeli military making significant gains and expanding its operation in the densely populated urban area. According to reports, the Israeli military now controls approximately 40% of Gaza City and plans to push further in the coming days.

This military offensive, which has been ongoing for weeks, has resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis. Local health authorities report that over 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, leaving much of the enclave in ruins. The assault threatens to displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sheltering in Gaza City.

The war in Gaza has led to Israel being diplomatically isolated, with US President Donald Trump engaged in "very deep" negotiations with the Palestinians to find a peaceful resolution. The latest diplomatic negotiations involve indirect talks mediated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, focusing on a ceasefire that includes the release of all living hostages within the first 48 hours after the ceasefire begins, in exchange for Israel suspending its military offensive in Gaza.

Hamas, which controls only parts of the enclave, has previously stated it would release all hostages if Israel agrees to end the war and withdraw its forces from Gaza. However, Hamas demands a clear declaration to end the war, a full Israeli withdrawal, and a Palestinian committee to govern Gaza, while Israel insists on Hamas's complete disarmament.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the capture of Gaza City against the advice of Israel's military leadership. Defence Minister Israel Katz has stated that military operations in Gaza will intensify until Hamas agrees to Israel's conditions for ending the war: releasing the hostages and disarming.

Netanyahu is pushing for an all-or-nothing deal to release all hostages at once and secure Hamas' surrender. There are calls within Israel for a diplomatic deal to secure the release of the remaining 48 hostages, who were taken by Palestinian militants after a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths in southern Israeli communities.

Residents are being urged to leave Gaza City for a designated coastal area of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, referred to as a "humanitarian zone". The Israeli military claims control over almost half of Gaza City and about 75% of all of Gaza, with the latest advances posing a significant threat to the remaining civilian population.