Israel Orders Major Evacuation in Southern Gaza Ahead of New Offensive
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued a large-scale evacuation notice for southern Gaza, instructing tens of thousands of people near Khan Younis to leave the area. The military says it is preparing for a “massive assault” on Hamas following a week of intense air strikes that Palestinian officials say have killed over 500 people.
With this latest alert, nearly all of southern Gaza is now under evacuation orders. Israeli forces have already cleared civilians from Rafah, and are now directing residents near Khan Younis to move west toward the coast and the Al Mawasi area — previously labeled a “humanitarian zone” but one that has been hit multiple times in Israeli air strikes.
Israel Launches Broader Ground Campaign in Gaza
Israel has expanded its ground offensive, pushing deeper into Gaza with troops and tanks. According to Palestinian health officials, over 460 people have died in the past week alone.
The new operation, called Gideon’s Chariots, is designed to capture large sections of the Gaza Strip and may pave the way for a prolonged Israeli presence in the territory.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the military’s objective is to “take full control of Gaza” and eliminate Hamas’s access to humanitarian supplies. “This is our war plan and our path to victory,” he said in a video message shared online.
He also announced that a “minimal amount of food” would begin entering Gaza, nearly three months into Israel’s full blockade of the region. His language appeared to suggest the decision was partly aimed at reducing international backlash, in addition to preventing a humanitarian catastrophe.
Netanyahu Faces Global Pressure Over Gaza Blockade
Facing both domestic pressure to bring home hostages and growing international criticism, Netanyahu said that even Israel’s staunchest allies were warning against images of widespread hunger.
“Top supporters of Israel, including longtime allies in the U.S. Senate, have told me directly: ‘We’ll back your fight against Hamas and shield you in the Security Council, but we cannot tolerate scenes of mass starvation.’”
Despite the international concern, Netanyahu has refrained from holding press conferences to address the worsening crisis, instead communicating primarily through social media posts.
Aid Blockade Tied to Hostage Negotiations
Israel has blocked nearly all humanitarian aid to Gaza since early March, saying the move was intended to pressure Hamas into releasing Israeli captives. Netanyahu has argued that creating a new aid distribution system takes time.
He described a plan where aid would be delivered through IDF-secured checkpoints, preventing Hamas from intercepting supplies. U.S.-based organizations would handle the distribution of food and medical aid. “The first of these points will be operational within days,” he said, eventually aiming to create zones fully controlled by the IDF where civilians can safely receive aid without Hamas interference.
UN In Talks with Israel Over Limited Aid Access
A spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed that Israeli officials have reached out about restarting limited aid efforts. “We’re currently in discussions about how this can be done given the realities on the ground,” the spokesperson said.
