The Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of part of an area in the Gaza Strip it has designated a humanitarian zone.
The military said Monday it is planning to begin an operation against Hamas militants who have embedded themselves in the area and used it to launch rockets toward Israel. The area includes the eastern part of the Muwasi humanitarian zone, which is located in the southern Gaza Strip.
Earlier this month, Israel said it estimates at least a million Palestinians are now in the humanitarian zone it declared. The zone covers a stretch of about 14 kilometers (8.6 miles) along the Mediterranean. Much of that area is now blanketed with tent camps that lack sanitation and medical facilities and have limited access to aid, U.N. and humanitarian groups say.
The announcement came during delicate negotiations seeking a cease-fire in Gaza, with U.S. and Israeli officials expressing hope that an agreement is closer than ever. A negotiating team will be sent to continue talks on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.
Egypt, Qatar and the United States are continuing to push Israel and Hamas toward a phased cease-fire deal that would stop the fighting and free the hostages.
Netanyahu left Monday for Washington, where he will make a speech before the U.S. Congress and meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Here’s the latest:
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza — Thousands of Palestinians collected their belongings and once again began evacuating part of the area of the Gaza Strip designated by the Israeli military as a humanitarian zone.
“We were displaced from the eastern regions, they called us to evacuate, we took our children and left,” said Osama Qudeih. “There was no safe place left in the Gaza Strip … We went out walking in the streets, not knowing where to go.” Thousands of families carrying backpacks and children walked down dusty roads under the scorching summer sun, navigating dilapidated cars filled with belongings tied on top.
Another woman collapsed in exhaustion after saying it was her seventh or eighth displacement. “Every day we are displaced,” said Kholoud al-Dadas, as she clutched her children. “Where are the countries? Where is the world, where are the presidents, where are they? Come and see how we are, our children, and what is happening to us.”
The area slated for evacuation included the eastern part of the al-Muwasi humanitarian zone, in the southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli military called for an evacuation because it said that Hamas militants had embedded themselves in the area and launched frequent rockets towards Israel.
Additionally, one person was killed and three injured in a strike outside the Al Aqsa hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah on Monday morning, according to an media journalist on the scene.
Overnight, at least 15 people, including four women and six children, were killed in strikes in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to hospital officials and a body count by an media journalist. The Israeli military did not have immediate comment.
TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israeli military said that one person was killed after he attempted to stab Israeli security forces with a knife at the entrance to an Israeli town along the Gaza border on Monday morning.
According to Israel’s Army Radio, the attacker arrived at the security checkpoint by car and in English started accusing Israel of carrying out atrocities in Gaza, before reaching into his car and taking out a knife. Security forces shot and killed the man. There were no other injuries reported.
The attack took place at the entrance of the Israeli town of Netiv Haasara, which is just 300 meters (yards) north of the Gaza border. Israeli police confirmed that the attacker was a Canadian citizen.