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Rabat – Israel Occupation Forces (IOF) have issued new evacuation orders for several neighborhoods in Deir el-Balah, a densely populated city in central Gaza.
The military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, announced on X that certain blocks in the southern part of the city are now deemed a “dangerous combat zone,” with a warning of imminent “forceful” actions against fighters in the area. He urged citizens to move westward immediately.
The situation has prompted a mass exodus, but many displaced families face a dire predicament. Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah, said that the evacuation has left hundreds of Palestinian families without a clear destination.
Many have attempted to flee towards the beach area, but this region is already heavily congested with other displaced individuals.
The evacuation zones in Deir el-Balah are adjacent to Khan Younis, where Israel’s ground offensive is currently concentrated. “So, it seems like the Israeli army is progressively expanding its military incursion to include the Strip’s most densely populated area,” Azzoum reported.
He added, “The evacuations are worsening human misery.”
Al Jazeera reported today that Israeli artillery strikes have killed one person and injured others in the Abu ‘Arif area, located southeast of Deir el-Balah, hours after Israel issued the new evacuation orders for the area.
In the past 24 hours, Israeli attacks have resulted in at least 50 deaths and 124 injuries across Gaza. This latest wave of violence has brought the total death toll to 40,223, with 92,981 injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The ministry also reported that there are additional unrecorded casualties of people trapped in areas inaccessible to emergency services.
