Israel Orders More Gaza Evacuations as Militants Launch Rockets

The Israeli military has recently mandated a further evacuation of specific residential zones in northwest Gaza, attributing the directive to rocket launches from Palestinian militants targeting the nearby Israeli town of Ashkelon.

This evacuation order, issued on Monday, was a response to a rocket assault that activated air raid alarms in Ashkelon on Sunday. The military reported intercepting one of the rockets, while another landed in the sea.

Earlier in the conflict, which began with Hamas’ attack on October 7, Israel required the evacuation of all residents in northern Gaza, including those in Gaza City, the largest city in the territory. Although most people complied and moved southward, approximately 300,000 individuals remained in the north. This area has experienced significant damage due to ongoing Israeli air and ground assaults and has been essentially cut off by Israeli forces since October.

Currently, around 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced during the nearly year-long conflict, many of them repeatedly. The majority are now living in overcrowded tent camps along the coast, which lack basic public amenities.