Israel orders Palestinians to leave Gaza City, saying those who stay will be considered militants

In Deir al‑Balāh, Gaza — Israel’s defense minister on Wednesday issued a sweeping evacuation order for all Palestinians remaining in Gaza City, declaring it their “last opportunity” to leave. He warned that anyone who stayed would be assumed to be a militant supporter and face the full might of Israel’s current offensive. 

Across the Gaza Strip, local hospitals reported that at least 21 Palestinians were killed that day in Israeli strikes. Meanwhile, Hamas officials were considering a U.S. proposal from President Donald Trump to end the war and secure the return of hostages abducted during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack. 

A senior Hamas leader told The Associated Press that parts of the proposal are unacceptable and need amendments, though he did not provide details. He said a formal response would emerge only after consulting with various Palestinian factions. 

Since Israel began its major assault on Gaza City in recent weeks, about 400,000 Palestinians have fled the area. Yet many remain — either unable to afford the journey or too frail to move — and they face overcrowded tent camps in southern Gaza if they manage to relocate. 

In his announcement on the social media platform X, Defense Minister Israel Katz urged remaining residents to head south, warning: “Those who remain … will be (considered) terrorists and terror supporters.” 

The exodus was chaotic and harrowing. Streets were crowded with hurriedly packed vehicles and people walking with meager belongings. One man, Hussein al‑Del, said they fled barefoot — abandoning their food, furniture, blankets and everything they owned, taking only their lives. He accused Israeli forces of striking indiscriminately. 

That same day, at least seven people — including first responders — died when two separate airstrikes struck a school sheltering displaced persons in Gaza City. Over 30 others were wounded. Elsewhere, strikes killed five people near a water tank, one person in his apartment, and eight more in central Gaza. In Deir al‑Balāh, a tent in the courtyard of Al‑Aqsa Martyrs Hospital was hit, leaving two people seriously wounded. 

The conflict has also taken a toll on journalists. In Deir al‑Balāh, dozens gathered for the funeral of freelance journalist Yahya Barzaq, who was killed in a strike along with five others while covering the conflict. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, more than 189 media workers have died during the war. 

Israel’s military did not immediately comment on the latest strikes or Barzaq’s killing. The Israeli government maintains it seeks to avoid civilian casualties and accuses Hamas of embedding militants within populated areas. 

That same day, Israeli authorities reported intercepting seven projectiles fired from Gaza; none caused casualties, according to their statements. Hamas’s capacities have been significantly weakened, though it still carries out occasional attacks.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 66,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 170,000 wounded in Israel’s campaign so far. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas‑run government, does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tolls — though it reports that women and children make up roughly half of the dead.

In the years since Hamas’s 2023 attack on southern Israel, which claimed around 1,200 lives and led to the abduction of 251 people, many hostages have been released through prior ceasefires. But roughly 48 remain in Gaza, with Israel asserting about 20 may still be alive there.

On the diplomatic front, Egypt’s foreign minister said Trump’s 20‑point plan requires further negotiation, echoing Qatar’s earlier remarks. Both nations are key intermediaries in the conflict. 

Under the U.S. plan, Hamas would relinquish control in Gaza and disarm in exchange for the release of prisoners, reconstruction aid, and a cessation of hostilities. However, the proposal excludes any path to Palestinian statehood. 

Arab and Muslim nations — including Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia — along with the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, have expressed general support for the plan. But Hamas remains cautious, seeking clarifications before committing. 

In parallel, the Israeli navy intercepted a flotilla of around 50 vessels attempting to reach Gaza with symbolic humanitarian aid, preventing them from breaching the naval blockade.

As of Wednesday, Israel said it would only allow Palestinians to evacuate south via the remaining north‑south route, barring movement northward. 

Nearly 90 percent of Gaza’s population has now been internally displaced, often multiple times. The International Committee of the Red Cross suspended operations in Gaza City due to escalating violence, relocating staff to southern areas. 

The flotilla interception and blockade enforcement drew sharp criticism internationally, as many view Israel’s military campaign as having produced catastrophic human suffering. 

Finally, the timing of the evacuation order falls on the eve of Yom Kippur — the Jewish Day of Atonement — a day on which Israel’s society largely shuts down, including businesses, public transport, and broadcasting.

Source: AP