Palestinian militant group Hamas declared on Sunday that Israel’s plan to relocate Gaza City residents represents a “new wave of genocide and displacement” impacting hundreds of thousands.
The group said the planned deployment of tents and other shelter equipment by Israel into southern Gaza was a “blatant deception”.
Relocation Plan
The Israeli military has said it is preparing to provide tents and other equipment starting from Sunday ahead of its plan to relocate residents from combat zones to the south of the enclave “to ensure their safety”.
This came days after Israel said it intended to launch a new offensive to seize control of northern Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban centre, in a plan that raised international alarm over the fate of the demolished strip, home to about 2.2 million people.
Hamas’ Last Stronghold
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Sunday said that before launching the offensive, the civilian population would be evacuated to what he described as “safe zones” from Gaza City, which he called Hamas’ last stronghold.
The shelter equipment will be transferred via the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza by the United Nations and other international relief organisations after being inspected by defence ministry personnel, the military said.
‘Balant Deception’
Hamas said in a statement that the deployment of tents under the guise of humanitarian purposes is a blatant deception intended to “cover up a brutal crime that the occupation forces prepare to execute”.
Israel said earlier this month that it intended to launch a new offensive to seize control of northern Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban centre. The plan has raised international alarm over the fate of the demolished strip, which is home to about 2.2 million people.
The war began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. About 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to be still alive.
Israel’s subsequent military assault against Hamas has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, Gaza’s health ministry says. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced most of Gaza’s population and left much of the enclave in ruins.
(With inputs from Reuters)
