Israel Orders Gaza Residents to Evacuate as High-Rises Reduced to Rubble

Mass Evacuation Amid Famine

Israel has called on thousands of residents in Gaza City to flee southward, issuing evacuation orders at a time when the enclave is already facing a devastating famine. Families, many of whom have been displaced multiple times since the war began nearly two years ago, were told to relocate to so-called humanitarian zones. Aid groups, however, warn that these areas lack sufficient shelter, clean water, food supplies, and basic medical care, making the relocation a move from one crisis to another.

Targeting of High-Rise Buildings

As evacuations began, Israeli forces bombed several high-rise residential towers in Gaza City. The strikes leveled well-known structures, including the 15-story Sousi Tower, leaving hundreds of families without homes. Israel defended the attacks by alleging that the buildings were being used by Hamas for military operations. Residents, however, described them as crowded shelters for civilians who had already lost their houses earlier in the conflict.

Civilians in Peril

The strikes come as famine grips Gaza, with aid deliveries failing to meet even the most basic needs. Reports indicate that hundreds have died while waiting in long lines at food distribution points. Children are particularly vulnerable, with rising cases of acute malnutrition being reported across the territory. For many civilians, the evacuation orders feel impossible to follow. Some are too weak or injured to move, while others say there is no safe place left to go.

Desperation on the Ground

Survivors describe scenes of chaos and despair. Families dragging suitcases and carrying children move through streets filled with smoke and rubble, uncertain of where to seek safety. “There is no safe tent, no safe house, no safe place,” one resident said. Another woman, displaced multiple times already, explained that she had nowhere left to take her children, even as bombs fell nearby.

International Reactions

The mass displacement has sparked condemnation abroad. Critics argue that forcing people to move during a famine amounts to deepening the humanitarian catastrophe. Regional leaders have dismissed claims that such evacuations are voluntary, calling them coercive under dire circumstances. Meanwhile, Israel maintains that its actions are aimed at dismantling Hamas infrastructure and pressuring the group to release hostages still held in Gaza.

A Conflict at a Breaking Point

This latest escalation highlights the precarious balance between military operations and the survival of civilians. The destruction of residential towers, combined with famine-driven desperation, underscores the deepening humanitarian disaster in Gaza. With no safe refuge and aid deliveries unable to keep pace, the crisis is pushing families to the edge of survival while intensifying calls worldwide for urgent intervention.