ISLAMABAD: The Israeli military has ordered all residents of Gaza City to evacuate immediately, warning it will act with “great force” in the area. In a post on X, IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee urged people in “all neighbourhoods, from the Old City to the sea” to head south via the al-Rashid axis towards al-Mawasi, a so-called “humanitarian zone”.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said more than 50 buildings had been destroyed in recent days, declaring it was “only the beginning” of a major ground incursion. Overnight air raids struck multiple areas in and around Gaza City, killing at least 11 people, with more than 20 reported missing.
Criticism of ‘Safe Zones’ and Forced Displacement
Israel says food and medical aid will be provided in al-Mawasi, but the UN has warned that no part of Gaza can be considered safe, noting that designated zones have themselves been bombed. The evacuation order, which could affect up to one million people, follows Israel’s security cabinet approval of a plan to seize control of Gaza City.
International organisations have condemned the move as mass forced displacement. Hamas denounced the destruction of high-rise buildings, including the as-Salam tower, calling it “one of the most heinous images of sadism and criminality”.
Global Reaction and Rising Toll
The death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 64,522, with more than 163,000 injured since Israel launched its war following the October 7 attacks that killed 1,139 people in Israel and saw about 200 taken captive. Thousands of Palestinians remain missing under rubble.
Spain has announced a sweeping arms embargo against Israel, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez saying the measure aims to “stop the genocide in Gaza” and support Palestinians. Meanwhile, Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz warned Gaza would be “ruined” unless Hamas surrenders and releases captives.
Israel’s military operations in Gaza have drawn mounting global condemnation for their devastating impact on civilians. While Tel Aviv cites security threats from Hamas to justify airstrikes, ground offensives, and blockades, human rights organisations accuse it of disproportionate force and collective punishment. According to Gaza’s health authorities, at least 64,500 Palestinians have been killed and more than 163,000 wounded since October 2023, the overwhelming majority women and children. Thousands more remain buried under rubble.
Recurrent assaults have obliterated homes, schools, hospitals, and vital infrastructure, leaving Gaza’s 2.3 million residents trapped in a man-made humanitarian catastrophe. The long-standing blockade and continuous bombardment have strangled the economy, driven unemployment to extreme levels, and restricted access to food, clean water, electricity, and healthcare. Critics argue these conditions amount to systematic oppression, deepening human suffering, and raising urgent questions about the legality and morality of the weapons being used.
