Gaza Strip evacuations

Gaza Strip evacuations
Part of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip
Israeli division of the Gaza Strip into 620 zones[1]
Date13 October 2023 – present
(1 year, 1 month and 4 days)
LocationGaza Strip
TypePopulation transfer
Organized by Israel
Deaths70+ (Israeli attacks on evacuating Palestinians)[2]
Displaced1,900,000[3]

During the Israel–Hamas war, the Israeli military ordered mass evacuations in Gaza, resulting in one of the largest displacements of Palestinians since 1948.[4][5][a] On 13 October 2023, just one week after Hamas' attack on Israel, Israel instructed 1.1 million Gazans north of the Wadi Gaza, including those in Gaza City, to evacuate within 24 hours.[7] This evacuation triggered a humanitarian crisis, with Palestinians calling it the "second Nakba," in reference to the mass displacement of 1948.[8]

Israel's ground invasion of Gaza began on 27 October 2023. By early November 2024, around 800,000 to 1 million Gazans had relocated to the southern part of the Strip, while 350,000 to 400,000 remained in the north.[9] Evacuees described the perilous journey as filled with fear and insecurity, citing attacks by the Israeli military and the sight of corpses along the evacuation routes.[10][11][12][13] Even after reaching the south, evacuees faced continued bombings, leaving no truly safe place in Gaza.[14]

The crisis intensified on 1 December 2023, when Israel began issuing evacuation orders throughout the entire Gaza Strip, dividing it into 620 zones and pushing a majority of Palestinians into an area one-third the territory’s size.[15][16][17] By mid-2024, close to two-thirds of Gaza's population had been relocated into less than one-fifth of the Strip, with additional evacuation orders placing 83 percent of the entire region under displacement directives by July.[18] By August 2024, Israel's orders became so frequent that some residents stopped complying, believing no part of Gaza was safer than any other, while others could not comply due to overcrowding in designated "safe zones."[19][b] In October 2024, forced evacuations in the besieged northern Gaza intensified fears that Israel was actively implementing aspects of the "generals' plan" to clear northern Gaza of Palestinians.[22][23]

These forced evacuations have drawn severe criticism globally. Legal experts, human rights organizations, and diplomats have condemned them as potential war crimes or crimes against humanity. South Africa has referenced these evacuations in its genocide case against Israel.[24][25]

  1. ^ Fabian, Emanuel. "IDF says new map splitting Gaza into zones will help residents avoid combat areas". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^
  4. ^ "Israeli military warns Gazans to relocate south for safety". The Jerusalem Post. October 13, 2023. Archived from the original on November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023. The call to evacuate came ahead of an anticipated ground invasion of the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing war with Hamas.
  5. ^
  6. ^ "Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel Flash Update #166 – OCHA". United Nations. OCHA. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  7. ^ Bhandari, Aditi; Dutta, Prasanta Kumar; Zafra, Mariano (2023-10-13). "Israeli military orders Gazans to leave northern half of territory". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-11-11. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  8. ^ Mhawesh, Mohammed (14 October 2023). "'A second Nakba': Echoes of 1948, as Israel orders Palestinians to leave". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  9. ^ Ambrose, Tom; Fulton, Adam; Ambrose (now), Tom; Fulton (earlier), Adam (2023-11-04). "Israel-Hamas war live: Red Crescent warns of 'war crime' after ambulances hit in Gaza". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-11-04. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :ft was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Why is Israel attacking was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "Photos: Palestinians fleeing to Khan Younis still face Israeli air attacks". Al Jazeera. 14 October 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  13. ^
  14. ^ "As Israel's Aerial Bombardments Intensify, 'There Is No Safe Place in Gaza', Humanitarian Affairs Chief Warns Security Council". UN Press. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  15. ^ "The Israel-Hamas war in maps: latest updates". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  16. ^ Besheer, Margaret (4 December 2023). "UN Chief Alarmed at Resumption, Spread of Gaza Fighting". VOA. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  17. ^ Zilber, Zeri (December 2023). "Israel plans for 'long war' and aims to kill top three Hamas leaders". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  18. ^
  19. ^ "Proliferating evacuation orders sow chaos, confusion in Gaza". France24. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  20. ^ Burke, Jason. "People in Gaza forced to stay in areas at risk of Israeli attack as 'safe zone' full". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  21. ^ Frankel, Julia. "Israeli evacuation orders cram Palestinians into shrinking 'humanitarian zone' where food is scarce". Associated Press. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  22. ^ Shotter, James. "Israel 'starting to implement' north Gaza starvation plan, say rights groups". Financial Times. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  23. ^ Kubovich, Yaniv. "Israeli Defense Officials: Gov't Pushing Aside Hostage Deal, Eyeing Gaza Annexation". Haaretz. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  24. ^ Sultany, Nimer (9 May 2024). "A Threshold Crossed: On Genocidal Intent and the Duty to Prevent Genocide in Palestine". Journal of Genocide Research: 1–26. doi:10.1080/14623528.2024.2351261.
  25. ^ Lawal, Shola. "Can South Africa's ICJ case against Israel stop war in Gaza?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 13 August 2024.


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