GAZA: Israel issued new evacuation orders for Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza late Sunday, further displacing families as it announced plans to act against Hamas and other groups in the area. This latest directive is part of a broader series of evacuation notices issued across Gaza, marking the highest number since the start of the 10-month conflict. The Deir Al-Balah municipality reports that these orders have displaced approximately 250,000 people.
The Israeli military has advised residents in designated zones to move westward, describing their current locations as “dangerous combat zones.” On Monday, Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least seven Palestinians—two in Deir Al-Balah, two at a school in the Al-Nuseirat camp, and three in Rafah. Later, an Israeli strike on a tent in Gaza City killed six Palestinians and injured several others.
The new evacuation orders have forced many, including patients, to leave Al-Aqsa Hospital, a key medical facility in Deir Al-Balah where hundreds of thousands have sought refuge. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that an explosion nearby triggered panic, leading the organization to consider suspending wound care while attempting to maintain life-saving treatments. The hospital, already operating beyond capacity, has seen its patient numbers drop from 650 to around 100, including seven in intensive care.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health has urged protection for the remaining patients and medical staff, noting that recent Israeli strikes have killed at least 30 Palestinians and injured 66 others in the past 24 hours.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have stalled. Negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have yet to yield an agreement between Israel and Hamas. Mediators’ proposals have not been accepted by either party, with Hamas rejecting new conditions and accusing U.S. officials of making false statements about a potential ceasefire deal. U.S. President Joe Biden faces increasing domestic protests over aid to Israel ahead of the upcoming elections.
The ongoing war has claimed over 40,400 Palestinian lives, displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, and created severe shortages of food and medicine.
