Israel: Israel's military announced plans to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza City to the southern part of the enclave, as part of its strategy to reoccupy the Gaza Strip. This move has attracted significant international criticism.
According to Anadolu Agency, army spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated that the military would begin allowing the entry of tents and shelter equipment for displaced Palestinians starting Sunday. These supplies will be brought in through the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza, under the supervision of the United Nations and international relief agencies, following thorough inspections. However, neither the UN nor aid organizations have provided immediate comments on this development.
The announcement follows reports from Israeli media, including public broadcaster KAN, that the army is preparing to escalate its offensive aimed at capturing Gaza City. Publications like Haaretz and Yedioth Ahronoth indicated that army forces have been instructed to prepare for a full-scale ground incursion, which is not expected before September.
Ismail Thawbteh, director of the Government Media Office in Gaza, criticized the Israeli claims, stating that they serve as an attempt to mask the ongoing forced displacement in Gaza. He expressed concerns that the designated areas for displaced civilians could turn into hazardous zones, similar to previous situations in southern Gaza's al-Mawasi area, where over 1.5 million people have been relocated.
Thawbteh emphasized that forcibly displacing civilians under occupation is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, labeling it as both a war crime and a crime against humanity. He argued that the planned transfer is part of a broader policy to depopulate Gaza and replace voluntary and safe return with enforced encampments.
Recently, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir approved the central idea of the reoccupation plan, which includes an assault on the Zeitoun neighborhood in southern Gaza City. The army's 99th Division has already been deployed in this area. Concurrently, Israel's Security Cabinet has backed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to reoccupy Gaza, a decision that has provoked international outrage and domestic protests.
The plan involves taking control of Gaza City by displacing approximately 1 million residents to the south, encircling the city, and conducting raids into its neighborhoods. A subsequent phase would target refugee camps in central Gaza, much of which has been devastated.
Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has continued its offensive in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, resulting in the deaths of 61,900 Palestinians. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.