On July 22, the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of part of a crowded area in the Gaza Strip designated as a humanitarian zone, announcing plans for an operation against Hamas militants in the region. Thousands of Palestinians, many carrying backpacks and accompanied by children, were seen walking down dusty roads under the scorching sun, navigating around dilapidated cars loaded with belongings.
This mass displacement is the latest in a series of upheavals for many Palestinians, who have been repeatedly uprooted in search of safety amidst Israel’s ongoing air and ground campaign. The military stated that the operation targets Hamas militants who have embedded themselves in the eastern part of the Muwasi humanitarian zone in the southern Gaza Strip and used the area to launch rockets toward Israel.
Earlier this month, Israel estimated that at least 1.8 million Palestinians, the majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million population, are now concentrated in the declared humanitarian zone, which spans about 14 kilometers (8.6 miles) along the Mediterranean. This area is heavily populated with tent camps that lack proper sanitation, and medical facilities and have limited access to aid, according to U.N. and humanitarian groups. Families are living in dire conditions, surrounded by mountains of trash and streams contaminated by sewage.
The situation remains dire as the Israeli military prepares for its operation, urging the affected residents to evacuate the designated area to ensure their safety.
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