Israeli military orders partial evacuation of Gaza humanitarian zone as deaths rise
Tuesday, 23 July 2024
Israel’s military has ordered the evacuation of part of a crowded area in the Gaza Strip it had designated a humanitarian zone, as the Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 39,000 Palestinians have now been killed in the nine-month war.
The military says it is planning an operation against Hamas militants who it says have embedded themselves in the area, using it to launch rockets towards Israel. The area includes the eastern part of the Muwasi humanitarian zone in southern Gaza.
Earlier this month, Israel estimated at least a million Palestinians were in the humanitarian zone that covers about 14 kilometres along the Mediterranean. Much of the area is full of tent camps that lack sanitation and medical facilities and have only limited access to aid.
Israel’s order prompted thousands of Palestinians to collect their belongings. “We were displaced from the eastern regions, they called us to evacuate, we took our children and left,” said Osama Qudeih. “There was no safe place left in the Gaza Strip … We went out walking in the streets, not knowing where to go.”
Another woman collapsed in exhaustion after saying it was her seventh or eighth displacement. “Every day we are displaced,” said Kholoud al-Dadas, as she clutched her children. “Where are the countries? Where is the world, where are the presidents, where are they? Come and see how we are, our children, and what is happening to us.”
The announcements came during delicate negotiations seeking a cease-fire. Egypt, Qatar and the United States are pushing Israel and Hamas toward a phased deal that would stop the fighting and free remaining hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has said a negotiating team will be sent to continue talks on Thursday.
Netanyahu is on the way to Washington, where he will make a speech before the U.S. Congress and meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, says the death toll since the start of the fighting in Gaza is now more than 39,000.
New Israeli strikes near the southern city of Khan Younis killed at least 37 people on Monday, according to the ministry, the mortuary at Nasser Hospital and journalists who saw the bodies. The strikes took place as hundreds of people were evacuating following the order from the Israeli military.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military has announced the deaths of two Israeli hostages being held in Gaza.
The military said that they had determined the deaths of Yagev Buchshtab, 35, and Alex Dancyg, 76, who were kidnapped from their homes in southern Israel on Oct. 7, based on intelligence.
The military did not say when the hostages had died.
There are approximately 120 hostages still being held in Gaza, though Israel believes more than 40 are no longer alive.
The military also said that one person was killed after he attempted to stab Israeli security forces with a knife at the entrance to an Israeli town along the Gaza border on Monday morning.
According to Israel’s Army Radio, the attacker arrived at the security checkpoint by car and in English started accusing Israel of carrying out atrocities in Gaza, before reaching into his car and taking out a knife. Security forces shot and killed the man. There were no other injuries reported.
The attack took place at the entrance of the Israeli town of Netiv Haasara, which is just 300 meters north of the Gaza border. Israeli police confirmed that the attacker was a Canadian citizen.