DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The Israeli military has called on residents of Gaza City to evacuate to a designated humanitarian area in the south as it intensifies its military operations in the region. This announcement comes as the city, which is home to nearly 1 million people, faces severe humanitarian challenges, including famine.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated that the Muwasi area, a makeshift tent camp in southern Gaza, has been declared a humanitarian zone. He urged residents to leave Gaza City, which the military has labeled a Hamas stronghold and combat zone. The military indicated that evacuees could travel along a designated route without being searched.

Parts of Gaza City are already classified as “red zones,” where evacuation orders have been issued. Aid organizations have expressed concerns that a mass evacuation could worsen the already dire humanitarian situation. The city has been described as being in a state of famine, with many residents displaced multiple times during the ongoing conflict.

The Israeli military provided a map outlining the humanitarian area, which includes the vicinity of Nasser Hospital. Although the hospital itself is not under evacuation orders, the area surrounding it has been deemed a red zone. Recently, Israeli airstrikes targeted the hospital, resulting in the deaths of 22 individuals, including a journalist.

The designated humanitarian zone is expected to include field hospitals, water pipelines, food supplies, and tents. Relief efforts are planned to continue in collaboration with the United Nations and other international organizations. However, the U.N. has stated that it was not involved in the unilateral designation of this humanitarian zone.

In a statement, the U.N. warned that the ongoing military offensive could lead to a deeper humanitarian crisis. It emphasized that any individuals who choose to relocate must have their basic needs met and should be able to return voluntarily when conditions permit.

Israeli forces have previously targeted areas they designated as safe zones, including Muwasi. On Saturday, the military issued warnings for two high-rise buildings in Gaza City, claiming that Hamas had infrastructure in or near these locations. Airstrikes continued in the city and surrounding areas, with reports of casualties, including a family of five killed in the Shati refugee camp.

Despite the evacuation orders, many residents are reluctant to leave. One woman, identified as Um Haitham, expressed her concerns, saying, "They only order us to leave from one town to another? What are we going to do with our children? Those who have an ill person, or an elderly or a wounded, where are we going to take them?"

The conflict has also led to protests in Israel, where families of hostages held by Hamas are demanding more attention from the government. Currently, there are 48 hostages, with 20 believed to be alive. Families have turned to U.S. President Donald Trump for assistance in securing their release.

On Saturday, families of the hostages expressed gratitude to Trump and his envoy for their efforts in advancing ceasefire negotiations. A lasting ceasefire remains elusive, with Hamas indicating it would only release hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel and abducted 251 individuals. Israel's retaliatory actions have resulted in over 64,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which reports that women and children comprise about half of the casualties. The accuracy of these figures is disputed by Israel, which has not provided its own casualty estimates.