As the IDF intensifies operations in Gaza City, Israeli officials are urging civilians to evacuate southward to a newly designated humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi, near Khan Younis. The move aims to separate Hamas fighters from noncombatants while providing safe shelter for families fleeing the combat zone.
IDF Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee announced that the zone has been equipped with field hospitals, water pipelines, desalination facilities, and steady supplies of food and medicine, in cooperation with the UN and international aid groups. He urged civilians to take the designated Al-Rashid coastal road, marked as a “humanitarian route,” to ensure their safety.
Israel has emphasized that its fight is against Hamas, not Gaza’s civilians. Yet Hamas continues to exploit the population by embedding its terror infrastructure in neighborhoods, mosques, and even high-rises. Residents who spoke to international media admitted they felt trapped—yet Israel maintains that humanitarian corridors remain open.
Egypt, meanwhile, has pushed back against Israel’s calls for more Gazan displacement, while Israel accuses Hamas of hoarding and hijacking aid to fuel its war machine.
The IDF reports it now controls about 40% of Gaza City and 75% of the Strip overall. Nearly one million civilians remain in northern Gaza, despite repeated evacuation calls.
For Israel, the goal is clear: dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities while upholding humanitarian obligations. The creation of the al-Mawasi safe zone reflects that balance—protecting civilians while ensuring Hamas can no longer operate freely in Gaza City.
