The Israeli military on Monday instructed the evacuation of the eastern part of the Muwasi humanitarian zone in the southern Gaza Strip.
The Associated Press reports that the military plans to launch an operation against Hamas militants, who they claim have embedded themselves in the area to launch rockets toward Israel.
Many Palestinians have been displaced multiple times during Israel’s air and ground campaign.
Earlier this month, Israel estimated that at least 1.8 million Palestinians are now living in the designated humanitarian zone, which covers a 14-kilometer stretch along the Mediterranean.
This area is heavily populated with tent camps that lack proper sanitation and medical facilities and have limited access to aid.
U.N. and humanitarian groups report families living amidst mountains of trash and streams contaminated by sewage.
Negotiations for Cease-Fire
The announcement came during delicate negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza.
U.S. and Israeli officials are hopeful that an agreement is close. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said a team will continue talks on Thursday.
Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are pushing for a phased cease-fire deal to stop the fighting and free the hostages.
Humanitarian Crisis
The war in Gaza has killed more than 38,900 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which counts both fighters and civilians.
The conflict began on October 7 with a Hamas attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 250 hostages. About 120 hostages are still held, and a third of them are believed to be dead, according to Israeli authorities.
On Monday, the Israeli military announced it is continuing operations in central and southern Gaza. On Sunday, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 15 people, including women and children, in Gaza, according to hospital officials and an Associated Press journalist.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened with the discovery of the polio virus as water and sanitation services have deteriorated. Traces of the virus were found in sewage samples.
The World Health Organization said no one has been treated for polio symptoms yet.
