Israel Orders Full Evacuation of Gaza City Ahead of Expanded Ground Assault

In a stark escalation of the long-running conflict, the Israeli military on September 9, 2025, issued a sweeping evacuation order for all residents of Gaza City, a metropolis of around one million people, just hours before launching preparations for a major ground offensive.

Leaflets, phone messages, and media broadcasts directed civilians to relocate to the designated “humanitarian zone” in the al-Mawasi area along Gaza’s southern coast. Thousands are already stranded in overcrowded tent settlements there, even as Israeli bombardments continue to strike the region.

Despite the urgency, only a fraction of residents, some 50,000 by UN and humanitarian estimates, have managed to move, citing insurmountable costs, insufficient shelter, and deep uncertainty about safety elsewhere in Gaza.

Israeli officials are framing the operation as a necessary move to neutralize Hamas’s last stronghold and dismantle its military infrastructure across the city. The defense minister warned of devastating consequences, calling a full evacuation “inevitable,” while Prime Minister Netanyahu described the offensive as a prelude to a major ground maneuver, vowing to act with “great force.”

Humanitarian agencies have sounded the alarm over the unfolding displacement, pointing to dire conditions in southern Gaza: famine, overcrowding, and a breakdown of basic services. Moving families hundreds of dollars, often more than $1,000, just to evacuate is beyond the reach of most civilians. Meanwhile, health workers in Gaza City remain, vowing not to abandon their posts amid growing chaos.

Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, Financial Times