Israel announced plans to forcibly relocate Palestinians from northern Gaza to the south while preparing a major military offensive in Gaza City, sparking mass protests in Israel over concerns for civilian safety and hostages still held in Gaza. The escalation comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions with malnutrition deaths rising sharply.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed preparations are underway for a large-scale operation targeting Gaza City and central refugee camps, aiming to dismantle Hamas. The military’s humanitarian coordination unit (COGAT) stated tent supplies for displaced Palestinians would resume Sunday, though details about the forced relocation timeline remain undisclosed. This follows weeks of intensified airstrikes in Zeitoun and other Gaza City neighborhoods that have killed dozens and trapped survivors under rubble.
Simultaneously, Israeli hostage families organized nationwide protests for Sunday, calling it a ‘day of stoppage’ to demand government action. Demonstrators blocked roads near Jerusalem, holding banners reading ‘Stop the Offensive, Save Hostages’. Families fear the planned invasion endangers 50 remaining captives, only 20 believed alive, citing recently released videos showing emaciated hostages pleading for help.
Humanitarian conditions reached catastrophic levels, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting 11 new malnutrition-related deaths in 24 hours (total 251). A baby girl and her parents were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the supposedly ‘safe’ Muwasi coastal zone. UN agencies warn starvation and disease are at wartime highs, with contaminated water spreading illness among displaced populations.
The offensive plans have drawn criticism from within Israel’s security establishment. Former military chiefs joined protest calls, while the UN human rights office documented 1,760 aid-seekers killed since May. Distribution remains hampered by Israeli restrictions and desperate crowds, despite US-backed humanitarian efforts.
Palestinians described fleeing Gaza City under heavy bombardment, with hospital officials reporting 25 killed in recent strikes—half while seeking aid. At Shifa Hospital, staff received bodies of six killed in Zikim and four from shelling incidents. In central Gaza’s Al-Bureij camp, an airstrike killed six family members including four children.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s expansion of operations into designated ‘safe zones’ like Muwasi signals a dangerous new phase. Analysts suggest the relocation threat may pressure Hamas regarding hostages, though it risks further international condemnation. With temperatures exceeding 90°F (32°C), displaced families lack basic shelter and clean water.
Next steps include Sunday’s nationwide Israeli protests and the expected launch of relocation operations. The UN warns the offensive could collapse Gaza’s remaining aid systems as malnutrition fatalities accelerate. International mediators continue pushing for a ceasefire deal, though neither side has shown public flexibility in recent negotiations.