The Israeli military has issued evacuation orders for several neighborhoods in Gaza City, marking the latest development in its ongoing offensive against Hamas amid renewed conflict in the region.
This new evacuation directive was issued late Thursday, shortly after Palestinian health authorities reported that dozens, including children, were killed in Israeli strikes on a school that had been converted into a shelter. The Israeli military has stated it is investigating this incident.
The evacuation order adds to the challenges faced by Palestinians, who have already experienced significant displacement and dire living conditions over the past 15 months of conflict. A fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, which had lasted for two months, collapsed in mid-March after both sides failed to agree on an extension, leading to intensified military actions.
In response to the ongoing situation, the Israeli military has launched a comprehensive bombing campaign across Gaza, which officials claim is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release more hostages. Avichay Adraee, a spokesman for the military, issued a “final” warning on social media, urging residents to move southward and suggesting that militant groups were operating among civilians in the area.
While some residents have complied with evacuation orders, others have opted to remain in their homes or shelters, citing the trauma of repeated displacements and a lack of alternative safe locations.
The military is currently reviewing reports regarding the incident that occurred in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City. As of Friday morning, they had not provided further comments.
On Wednesday, Adraee had specifically called for evacuations from Tuffah, while the Thursday order extended to other areas of the city.
Verified video footage shows the aftermath of an explosion at the Dar al-Arqam school, where civilians were sheltering, leading to chaotic scenes at Al Ahli Arab Hospital, where injured children were transported. The Gaza health ministry reported that 27 bodies from the strike arrived at the hospital, though it does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties.
Among the deceased was the grandson of Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas negotiator based in Qatar, according to reports from Hamas-affiliated media.
Israel has previously targeted schools serving as shelters, alleging that Hamas militants utilize these locations for operational purposes, a claim that Hamas has consistently denied. The United Nations has indicated that such strikes may have violated international law by disproportionately affecting noncombatants.
Since the cease-fire ended on March 18, more than 1,000 individuals in Gaza have reportedly been killed, with overall casualties exceeding 50,000 since the start of the conflict, which erupted following a Hamas-led attack on Israel that resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli fatalities.