Thousands of Palestinians fled central Gaza on Monday due to new Israeli evacuation orders, worsening the humanitarian crisis in an area already overwhelmed with displaced people.
Hamas accused Israel of blocking a ceasefire by adding new conditions to a truce proposal. Israeli forces, which now control nearly the entire Gaza Strip after 10 months of war, have intensified operations in areas where they previously claimed to have cleared Hamas fighters.
Hundreds of thousands have converged on Deir al-Balah, the last major area not stormed, following recent fighting in Khan Younis. On Sunday, Israel ordered residents to flee Al-Bureij, just northeast of Deir.
Israeli jets hit 35 targets across Gaza as troops battled fighters in Khan Younis and Rafah. Palestinian officials reported at least eight killed in an air strike in Khan Younis.
The Gaza Health Ministry declared a polio epidemic after detecting the virus in sewage samples. New evacuation orders forced thousands to leave Bureij, many using donkey carts and rickshaws, or walking several kilometers to reach Deir or al-Zawayda.
UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said only 14 percent of Gaza has not been under evacuation orders, with people repeatedly forced to evacuate on short notice.
Source – CGTN