Roughly one in four residents of Gaza City have evacuated amid preparations for an intense Israeli assault on the remaining Hamas strongholds, according to estimates from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Over recent weeks, tens of thousands more civilians have fled, with the total evacuee count reaching about 280,000 under Israeli estimates. However, Hamas‑run civil defense reports a far lower figure, stating fewer than 70,000 people have left.
Before the IDF’s offensive began, Gaza City was estimated to house around one million people. Many of those leaving are relocating to humanitarian zones established in southern Gaza by the IDF in an effort to reduce civilian casualties as military operations intensify.
The offensive — named “Gideon’s Chariots II” — aims to dismantle the remaining infrastructure of Hamas and rescue the 48 Israeli hostages still held, 20 of whom are reportedly alive but in grave danger. The mission comes amidst global diplomatic pressure, hostages negotiations, and ongoing ceasefire discussions, which have so far stalled due to Hamas refusing to disarm or step down.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled that if Hamas does not relinquish power voluntarily, Israel will take decisive action to remove its leaders wherever they hide. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Israel to coordinate U.S. responses and express American reservations over operations targeting Hamas officials who are sheltering in Qatar.
