ISLAMABAD: Israeli forces have issued new evacuation instructions for civilians in northern Gaza, signaling an escalation in their military operations targeting Hamas strongholds.
Residents of Gaza City and Jabalia have been told to relocate south toward Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis — an area Israel designates as a “humanitarian zone.”
Fighting Intensifies in Crowded Gaza Districts
The Israeli military has announced the next phase of its campaign, which includes expanded airstrikes and ground operations.
Heavy shelling in Jabalia flattened multiple homes, killing at least six, according to local medics and witnesses.
In Khan Younis, five more civilians were killed after an airstrike struck near a tent camp.
A top Israeli security official stated that Prime Minister Netanyahu had been informed the offensive is approaching key milestones, though concerns persist about the fate of hostages still held by Hamas.
International Push for Truce Gains Urgency
As the civilian toll rises, international efforts for a ceasefire are gathering pace.
Mediated talks involving Egypt, Qatar, and the US have resumed, but negotiations remain deadlocked.
Hamas demands a total ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal, while Israel insists the war must continue until Hamas is dismantled.
The conflict, which began with Hamas’ deadly attack in October 2023 that killed around 1,200 Israelis, has since led to the deaths of over 56,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and displaced the majority of the region’s 2.3 million people.
