Israel has escalated its Israel Gaza offensive, issuing an evacuation warning for parts of Gaza City to target Hamas infrastructure, a move that has drawn swift international condemnation.
IDF Issues Evacuation Warning for Gaza City
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued an Israel Gaza City evacuation warning to Palestinians in several areas it plans to target. The military provided a map detailing the specific locations slated for strikes.
“For your safety, you are required to immediately evacuate the area southward to the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, Khan Yunis,” stated Col. Avichay Adraee, an IDF spokesperson.
Humanitarian preparations, including the movement of thousands of tents and shelter equipment, are underway in southern Gaza.
Expansion of the Israel Gaza Offensive
The warning is part of an expansion of the IDF’s ground operations, named Operation Gideon’s Chariots II. Israel stated the goal is to strike an area due to the presence of Hamas terrorist infrastructure.
Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) is working with international partners to ensure humanitarian supplies are available for evacuees. The designated area is intended to include field hospitals and water infrastructure.
Widespread International Condemnation of Israel’s Gaza Plan
The plan’s announcement last month drew immediate backlash, and the recent escalation has received widespread international condemnation. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the decision “wrong” and urged Israel to “reconsider immediately.“
“This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed,” Starmer said in August.
A joint statement issued on behalf of several nations claimed Israel’s plans violated international law.
Slovenian U.N. Ambassador Samuel Žbogar delivered the statement from Slovenia, Denmark, France, Greece, and the United Kingdom.
He urged Jerusalem to “reverse this decision and not to implement it.“
France Plans Palestinian State Recognition Amidst Backlash
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, a vocal critic of the war’s handling, also condemned the announcement. He stated, “This escalation will do nothing to end the humanitarian horror in Gaza or the deepening suffering of both the Israeli hostages and Palestinian civilians.“
Amid the growing diplomatic pressure, France plans to recognize a Palestinian state this month at the United Nations. The move highlights the increasing international friction over the conflict.
