Leaflets were scattered over Deir el-Balah, instructing Palestinians to evacuate to a ‘safe zone’ that is frequently targeted by Israeli airstrikes.
The Israeli military has issued a new evacuation order for Palestinians in central Gaza, directing them to flee southward to al-Mawasi, an area under consistent assault despite being labeled a “safe zone.”
On Sunday, numerous leaflets were distributed over Deir el-Balah, urging families residing in makeshift tents across the densely populated city to relocate immediately.
This warning came as the Israeli military escalated its operations against Hamas militants, resulting in the deaths of many civilians, including at least 73 individuals seeking aid in northern Gaza.
In a statement posted on X, military spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents and the displaced population in Deir el-Balah to evacuate without delay.
Adraee noted that Israeli forces were “intensifying their activities” in the vicinity of Deir el-Balah, including in areas previously untouched, advising Palestinians to “head south towards al-Mawasi” on the Mediterranean coast “for your safety.”
A video verified by Al Jazeera captured the Israeli military dispersing a significant number of leaflets over residential areas in Deir el-Balah, relaying the evacuation order.
‘Nowhere else to go’
Reporting from Deir el-Balah, Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary highlighted the densely populated nature of the targeted area, emphasizing the impracticality for residents to evacuate on such short notice.
“Palestinians here refuse to leave, asserting their intention to remain in their homes, as even the areas designated as safe by the Israeli military have been bombarded,” she reported.
“Residents express that they have nowhere else to go, with most western areas and even al-Mawasi saturated with displaced individuals and tents, leaving them with no viable options.”
This evacuation warning surfaced while indirect ceasefire negotiations were taking place between Israel and Hamas in Qatar, though no significant progress has been reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly underscored that intensifying military actions in Gaza will compel Hamas to negotiate, yet talks have been stagnant for several months.
As of this month, the Israeli military claims to control over 65% of the Gaza Strip.
With over two million residents in Gaza, most have experienced displacement at least once during the ongoing conflict, which has now reached its 22nd month. Israel has systematically ordered departures or faced attacks across broad regions of the coastal enclave.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported in January that over 80% of the Gaza Strip remained under unlifted evacuation threats, with many residents facing starvation.
Recently, a 35-day-old infant and a four-month-old baby succumbed to malnutrition in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital this past weekend.
On Saturday alone, at least 116 Palestinians lost their lives—many were seeking aid from food distribution points established by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is backed by Israel and the United States.
Since the GHF began its operations in late May, approximately 900 desperate Palestinians have perished at these sites due to a blockade that has restricted access to food and other essentials from the UN and various aid organizations.
This ongoing devastation has led Pope Leo XIV to condemn the “barbarity” of the conflict, calling for an end to the indiscriminate use of force. During a prayer meeting near Rome, he urged for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for peaceful resolutions to the conflict.