Israel’s announcement to relocate Palestinians from combat zones to southern Gaza ahead of a major military offensive in densely populated areas has ignited international alarm and domestic unrest. The Israeli military’s humanitarian aid body, COGAT, confirmed that tent supplies will resume Sunday to facilitate the move, though no timeline for the mass displacement was provided. Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on social media that discussions are underway to finalize a plan to “defeat Hamas” in Gaza, signaling an escalation in the 22-month conflict.
The decision follows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approval to seize Gaza City and central camps like Nuseirat and Bureij, prompting fears of worsening humanitarian conditions. The United Nations warned that such a move would exacerbate suffering, with starvation and malnutrition at record highs. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 11 malnutrition-related deaths in the past 24 hours, including a child, bringing the war’s total to 251. A 20-year-old Palestinian woman died Friday in Italy after transfer from Gaza due to severe physical deterioration.
An Israeli airstrike in the Muwasi area, designated as a safe zone, killed a 2.5-month-old girl and her parents on Saturday, drawing condemnation. “What has she done?” asked neighbor Fathi Shubeir, highlighting civilian casualties in supposedly secure areas. The Israeli military, claiming to target Hamas while minimizing civilian harm, said it could not comment without further details. Shifa Hospital reported six deaths in Zikim and four from shelling, underscoring the relentless violence.
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Concurrently, families of the 50 remaining hostages in Gaza—only 20 believed to be alive—called for a “nationwide day of stoppage” on Sunday to demand a ceasefire and hostage release deal. Videos of emaciated hostages pleading for help have fueled public outrage, with protests erupting across Israel, including road blockades in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. “Force kills hostages; a deal brings them home,” said a statement from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Dana Silberman Sitton, whose sister and nephews perished in captivity, spoke at a Tel Aviv rally alongside Pushpa Joshi, sister of kidnapped Nepalese student Bipin Joshi. “I miss my best friend,” Joshi said, urging action.
The war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, has led to over 61,897 Palestinian deaths, with half reportedly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, considered reliable by the U.N. Israel’s plan to relocate civilians, possibly to pressure Hamas, has drawn sharp criticism. The U.N. reported 1,760 deaths of Palestinians seeking aid since May, with 766 along convoy routes and 994 near non-U.N. sites like the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
The U.S. State Department halted visitor visas for Gazans on Saturday, reviewing recent medical-humanitarian visa issuances after backlash from far-right activists. This move, criticized by groups like the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, may block medical care for Gaza’s wounded children. Meanwhile, posts on X suggest Israel’s actions aim at depopulating Gaza, with some calling it a “genocide.” These claims remain unverified but reflect growing global concern.
International leaders, including the U.N.’s Volker Turk and EU’s Antonio Costa, condemned the planned offensive, urging a halt to prevent further destruction and uphold Palestinian self-determination. Hamas labeled the relocation a “crime against humanity,” while protests in New York and Egypt highlighted global solidarity with Gaza. As Israel’s military ramps up operations in Zeitoun and Shejaia, the path to peace remains fraught.
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