Israel orders civilians to evacuate Gaza’s Deir al-Balah amid expanded military offensive

By Ikram Kouachi

The Israeli army on Sunday issued a new evacuation order to residents in the southwestern parts of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza as it expands its offensive in the area.

In a statement, army spokesperson Avichay Adraee ordered civilians located in residential blocks between 130 and 2351, “including those sheltering in tents,” to leave the area and head south toward al-Mawasi.

The Al-Mawasi zone, repeatedly designated by the Israeli army as a “safe zone,” has become severely overcrowded, with tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians living in dire humanitarian conditions.

Despite being labeled a “safe zone,” al-Mawasi has been bombed multiple times over the course of the war, with Israeli airstrikes killing hundreds of civilians sheltering there.

The Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing nearly 59,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has destroyed the enclave and led to food shortages and spread of disease.

Talks to reach a deal to end the war are currently underway in Doha, Qatar.