Communities say advancing military boundary forces thousands to flee while humanitarian concerns grow
GAZA CITY: Palestinian residents in several areas of Gaza say they have been forced to flee once again after Israeli forces expanded areas under military control in recent days, according to Reuters.
Residents of Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood, Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, Tuffah, Shejaia and northern Rafah said the Israeli military had advanced what they referred to as the “yellow line” over the past 10 days, prompting fresh displacement.
In Zeitoun, residents said Israeli evacuation orders preceded the expansion of the military zone, forcing families to leave homes and temporary shelters. Some residents told Reuters it was the seventh or eighth time they had been displaced since the conflict began in October 2023.
Boundary changes prompt further evacuations
According to residents and Hamas officials cited by Reuters, Zeitoun is one of at least five locations where Israeli forces have extended the military boundary established under a US-brokered ceasefire framework reached in October.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously said Israel intended to increase the area under its control in Gaza to around 70% of the territory. Reuters reported that Israel effectively controlled an estimated 64% of the enclave by late April.
On July 20, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said an Israeli displacement order in Zeitoun forced about 30 families to leave their tents. Residents later said those shelters were subsequently destroyed.
Humanitarian situation remains severe
The latest movement of civilians adds to the humanitarian challenges facing Gaza, where repeated evacuation orders have displaced large numbers of people throughout the conflict.
According to health authorities in Gaza, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 174,000 injured since the war began. Israeli authorities dispute some casualty reporting by Gaza officials. Separately, humanitarian organisations have reported widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure across the enclave.
The Israeli military has said its operations target armed groups and military infrastructure, while international organisations continue to express concern over the humanitarian impact of the fighting and repeated displacement of civilians.
