Palestinians walk amid the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive at Al-Shati camp, Gaza City, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo)
Jerusalem: Israel has ordered the evacuation of several areas in Gaza City, including Zeitoun and Tel al-Hawa, as it intensifies its offensive against Hamas. The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it would soon respond to rocket fire from the region and urged residents to move south. These neighborhoods have previously witnessed Israeli operations during the ongoing 17-month war.
The escalation follows Israel’s decision last week to end its ceasefire with Hamas, launching a wave of surprise airstrikes that killed hundreds of Palestinians. Israel has vowed to increase military pressure until the militant group returns the remaining 59 hostages, of whom 24 are believed to be alive. Additionally, Israel has demanded that Hamas disarm and exile its leaders.
Hamas has refused to release the hostages without a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a cross-border attack into Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. In response, Israel's retaliatory offensive has claimed over 50,000 lives, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which has not specified how many were civilians or combatants.
With PTI inputs