Palestinians say overcrowding in displacement camps across southern Gaza has worsened since the Israeli army last week declared northern Gaza and Gaza City a combat zone and ordered residents to evacuate.

While a large number of people decided to stay in Gaza City despite the evacuation orders and threat of a new offensive, those who fled once again face difficulties finding a place in the small, overcrowded spaces that are not under Israeli military control in the Strip.

Families who fled the north have poured into Khan Younis and surrounding areas, cramming into tents and makeshift shelters alongside those already displaced.

“There is no room. It's overcrowded. The tents are close together," Iman al-Naqa a displaced Palestinian living in Muwasi tent camp on Gaza’s southern coast, said.

"This causes disease and it is widespread. There are no cleaning supplies or anything. People are suffering from everything."

Iman Abu Ta’ima, a displaced woman from eastern Khan Younis, shared the same concerns.

“There's nothing to support a person in this life so they can survive. The situation is very difficult. Mainly, in terms of water, expenses, food and overcrowding. There's no room,” Abu Ta’ima said.

For her part, Shorouk Abu Eid, another displaced woman from eastern Khan Younis, said the situation was already "tragic" before the recent wave of new arrivals from the Gaza City area.

Israel on Tuesday repeated earlier warnings to Palestinians who have remained in Gaza City, unconvinced that another displacement will keep them safe.

An Israeli military spokesperson warned that combat operations would soon be expanding, and that services would be made available in Muwasi.

Israel also began mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists as part of its plan to widen its offensive in Gaza City, which has sparked opposition domestically and condemnation abroad.

Since the world's leading authority on food crises declared last month that Gaza City was experiencing famine, malnutrition-related deaths have mounted.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said on Tuesday that a total of 185 people died of malnutrition in August — marking the highest count in months.

The ministry reported on Tuesday that 63,633 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 2,300 seeking aid, since the war started October 7, 2023, with a Hamas-led attack on Israel.

Part of the Hamas-run government but staffed by medical professionals, it doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up around half of the dead.

U.N. agencies and many independent experts consider the ministry's figures to be the most reliable estimate of war casualties.

Israel disputes them, but hasn’t provided its own toll.