Israel prepares to move Palestinians to southern Gaza amid expanded military operations

Israel announced on Saturday that it is preparing to move Palestinians from combat and operational zones to southern Gaza as plans move ahead for a military offensive in some of the Strip’s most populated areas, including the northern Gaza City.

The Israeli military body in charge of overseeing the humanitarian system to Gaza – The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) – says the supply of tents to the enclave will resume on Sunday.

The Israeli military did not make further comments or indicate when the mass movement of Palestinians would begin. Defence Minister Israel Katz did however state in a post on his social media platforms that the government is in the final planning stage.

“Now we are in the stage of discussions to formulate the plan to defeat Hamas in Gaza and return the hostages, and at their conclusion, there will be a comprehensive and powerful plan to carry out the mission in all its aspects,” wrote Katz in a post on X.

The announcement comes just a week after Israel’s security cabinet moved to approve plans to occupy Gaza City. It’s a slight downgrade from what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had in mind, as he vowed to take control of Gaza in its entirety.

Israeli attacks continue across Gaza

Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes are continuing to wreak havoc across the enclave. On Saturday, a strike killed a baby girl and her parents, according to medical sources at the Nasser Hospital which received the bodies. They were killed in their tent in the crowded al-Mawasi area.

“Two and a half months, what has she done?" neighbour Fathi Shubeir asked, “They are civilians in an area designated safe.”

The Israeli Defence Forces did not provide more details on the attack, only asserting that they were dismantling Hamas’ military capabilities and stressing that they take precautions not to harm civilians.

Al-Mawasi is one of the most heavily populated areas in Gaza where Netanyahu says Israel plans to expand its operations in with its upcoming military offensive.

At least 51 others were killed in Israeli attacks elsewhere in Gaza over the past 24 hours, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry says the death toll is now nearing 62,000 since Israel launched its offensive on the enclave in October 2023.

Their figures do not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties, but the UN says more than two-thirds of deaths it has been able to verify were women and children.

Israel launched its war on Gaza after Hamas staged an attack on southern Israel on 7 October, 2023, killing 1,200 people, according to Israel, mainly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Some 50 hostages still remain under Hamas captivity in Gaza, 20 of which are believed to still be alive.

UN condemns worsening humanitarian crisis

The United Nations have condemned Israel over what it calls a “man-made” humanitarian crisis in Gaza, warning that it could significantly worsen if immediate measures to alleviate the suffering are not instated.

The UN says more than 90% of Gaza’s two million population are at dire risk of starvation, after Israel moved to restrict UN aid operations, accusing Hamas of looting supplies for their own gain.

The UN’s main aid agency in Gaza, UNRWA, has faced severe restrictions after Israel claimed without providing proof that many of its staff were Hamas members.

Israel, along with the US, launched their own aid mission in Gaza to replace traditional UN systems, operated by the Delaware-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The GHF says it distributes millions of meals daily through its hubs, but experts say it’s nowhere near enough to satisfy the needs of the population.

The Gaza Health Ministry says more and more people are dying from starvation. On Saturday, 11 people died, bringing the total number of famine-related deaths to 251, including 108 children.