Israel Orders Gaza City Evacuation, Strikes Kill Dozens

Israel Orders Gaza City Evacuation, Strikes Kill Dozens

Israel’s defense minister has ordered all Palestinians to leave Gaza City immediately, warning that anyone who remains will be considered a militant supporter and face the “full force” of the ongoing offensive. The order, issued Wednesday by Defense Minister Israel Katz, described the evacuation as residents’ “last opportunity” to move south.

The directive comes as the humanitarian crisis deepens in Gaza, where famine and relentless bombardment have already displaced hundreds of thousands.

Around 400,000 people have fled Gaza City since Israel’s latest military campaign began, but many remain trapped due to poverty, illness, or lack of transport. Witnesses reported chaotic scenes as families loaded trucks and cars, while others fled on foot carrying what little they could salvage.

Airstrikes across Gaza killed at least 21 Palestinians Wednesday, according to local hospitals. In Gaza City, Israeli strikes hit a school sheltering displaced people, killing at least seven including first responders, while dozens more were injured. Separate strikes on a water tank and residential buildings left additional casualties. In central Gaza, a strike near Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital wounded two, and another killed eight people.

The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that 189 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, including freelance reporter Yahya Barzaq, who died Tuesday while working for Turkey’s TRT network.

Israel has not commented on the latest strikes but maintains it targets Hamas fighters, who it says operate within civilian areas. Meanwhile, Hamas is weighing a new ceasefire and hostage-release proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump, though officials say amendments are needed.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 170,000 injured since the war began. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and militants, but states women and children account for about half the fatalities.

Key Takeaways:

• Israel ordered all Palestinians to evacuate Gaza City, calling it a “last opportunity.”

• Strikes on shelters, homes, and hospitals killed at least 21 Palestinians Wednesday.

• Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 66,000 dead since the war began in October 2023.

Source: Associated Press