A leading medical aid group has raised alarm over Israeli evacuation orders in parts of northern Gaza, warning that the region is at risk of becoming an 'unliveable wasteland' due to the displacement of Palestinians.
Since Sunday, the Israeli military has issued evacuation orders for three major areas in northern Gaza - Beit Hanoun, Jabalya, and Beit Lahia. The orders were issued as part of a new ground offensive aimed at countering Hamas' efforts to rebuild its capabilities in the area.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has reported that these orders are affecting hundreds of thousands of people, particularly in northern Gaza where over 400,000 individuals are under pressure to relocate southward.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has described the evacuations as the 'latest forced mass displacement' in the region. They highlighted that residents are being directed to move to the overcrowded humanitarian zone between Al-Mawasi and Deir Al-Balah, where conditions are already deemed inhumane with one million people residing there.
MSF further expressed concerns about the safety of civilians and aid workers in the designated zone, citing ongoing Israeli strikes in the area. The organization emphasized that the continuous forced evacuations and bombings are transforming northern Gaza into an unlivable wasteland, essentially erasing Palestinian presence from the region.
Notably, a recent Israeli strike in Al-Mawasi resulted in the deaths of at least 19 individuals and left many others injured. The Israeli military confirmed the operation, stating that it targeted Hamas fighters in the area.
As the situation unfolds, concerns are mounting over the humanitarian impact of the Israeli evacuation orders in northern Gaza. Efforts to seek clarification and response from the Israeli military are currently underway.
