Jerusalem, October 14: The Israeli military has issued an evacuation order for residents in northern Gaza, asking them to move southward via two specified routes between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee’s statement in Arabic, as reported by CNN.
The evacuation instructions, provided without any threat to personal safety during the mentioned hours, are in preparation for a potential ground offensive by the Israeli army. Those residing in Gaza City are encouraged to relocate southward from Beit Hanoun to Khan Yunis, as stated by Adraee.
Residents living near the beach and to the west of Olive are permitted to move along Daldul and Al-Sana Streets towards Salah Al-Din and Al-Bahr, as stated in the statement.
On Friday, the IDF had previously called for the evacuation of Gaza City residents from their homes, heading south for their own safety and protection, with an emphasis on moving to the area south of the Wadi Gaza. Wadi Gaza is a river valley running across the center of the Gaza Strip, ending at the Mediterranean Sea, known for its coastal wetlands and biodiversity.
Residents have been informed that they can return to Gaza City only when another announcement permits it. The military expressed concern that Hamas militants were concealed in tunnels beneath the city and inside buildings inhabited by civilians. They urged civilians to evacuate the city for their own safety and to distance themselves from Hamas, who are using them as human shields. The IDF stressed that it would continue to operate significantly in Gaza City in the coming days, with extensive efforts to avoid harming civilians.
However, this announcement has raised widespread concerns regarding the already dire humanitarian conditions in the Hamas-controlled enclave. The UN has strongly appealed for the evacuation order to be rescinded, citing its “impossible” implementation and the potential for a “calamitous situation.”
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed doubts about the feasibility of evacuating one million people from Gaza within 24 hours, warning of a humanitarian crisis. While acknowledging Israel’s right to defend itself, he emphasized the limits imposed by international law.
UN aid chief Martin Griffiths criticized the evacuation order, describing it as defying the rules of war and basic humanity. He expressed deep concern over the safety of civilians, including women and children, forced to move from one densely populated area to another amid ongoing conflict, without humanitarian support.
The humanitarian consequences and long-term implications of such mass displacement are expected to be catastrophic. Over 1,900 Palestinians, including journalists and medics, have been killed in Gaza due to near-constant shelling, and more than 400,000 Palestinians were internally displaced before the evacuation warning was issued, according to the UN.
