Israel’s defense minister has issued a directive for all remaining Palestinians to vacate Gaza City, emphasizing that this is their final chance. Those who opt to stay will be classified as supporters of militants and will encounter the full brunt of Israel’s latest offensive. The local hospitals reported a death toll of at least 16 Palestinians across the region, while Hamas deliberated over a new proposition from U.S. President Donald Trump designed to bring an end to the conflict and facilitate the return of captives taken during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.
Since Israel initiated a significant offensive last month with the aim of taking control of famine-stricken Gaza City, approximately 400,000 Palestinians have fled the area. Nevertheless, hundreds of thousands remain, primarily due to financial constraints or physical inability to travel to the tent camps in the southern region.
Defense Minister Israel Katz conveyed in a statement, “This is the last chance for Gaza residents to relocate south and leave Hamas extremists isolated in Gaza City. Individuals remaining in Gaza will be deemed as terrorists and supporters of terrorism.”
Regarding the recent strikes, a school serving as a shelter for displaced individuals in Gaza City was hit by two Israeli strikes in quick succession, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people, including first responders. Additional strikes in various locations led to further casualties, including fatalities and injuries.
Earlier on the same day, mourners gathered at a hospital to pay their respects during the funeral service of Palestinian freelance journalist Yahya Barzaq, who lost his life in an airstrike the previous day while working for Turkish media outlet TRT. The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that over 189 Palestinian journalists and media personnel have been killed by Israeli actions in Gaza since the onset of the conflict.
The ongoing military campaign in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 66,000 Palestinians and injuries to nearly 170,000 others, as per Gaza’s Health Ministry. The previous Hamas-led attack on southern Israel from two years ago caused the death of around 1,200 individuals, with 251 taken as captives. While many hostages have been released through earlier ceasefire agreements, around 48 individuals remain in captivity in Gaza.
As for Trump’s peace proposal, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Bader Abdelatty mentioned that further negotiations are necessary on specific aspects of the plan, aligning with Qatar’s earlier remarks. Hamas indicated that they would review the proposal, with the timeline for their response remaining uncertain.
The plan, which has garnered international support, entails conditions for Hamas to release captives, relinquish control in Gaza, and disarm in exchange for the release of Palestinian detainees and cessation of hostilities. It guarantees the provision of humanitarian aid and pledges reconstruction in Gaza, subjecting it and its over two million residents to international oversight. However, the plan does not outline a clear path to Palestinian statehood.
The Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank, along with several Arab nations, has shown support for the plan. Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced restrictions from midday Wednesday, allowing Palestinians to move only southward from Gaza City and not in the opposite direction on the sole route still accessible. The intensification of conflict in Gaza City forced the International Committee of the Red Cross to suspend its operations there and relocate staff to southern Gaza.