GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (BN24) — Hamas on Sunday rejected Israel’s plan to relocate residents from Gaza City, calling it a “new wave of genocide and displacement” for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the war-ravaged enclave.
The Palestinian militant group said Israel’s deployment of tents and shelters in southern Gaza was “a blatant deception,” accusing the Israeli military of disguising forced displacement under the guise of humanitarian aid.
Israel’s military announced it would begin providing tents and equipment in southern Gaza starting Sunday as part of its plan to move civilians out of northern Gaza City, which it has identified as a key combat zone. The military said the relocation aims to ensure the safety of civilians ahead of a planned offensive to seize control of the enclave’s largest urban center.
Hamas denounced the move, saying it was an attempt to “cover up a brutal crime” as Israel prepares a new assault. The relocation plan has sparked international concern over the future of the already devastated strip, home to roughly 2.2 million people.
The war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken, according to Israeli authorities. Israel’s ensuing military campaign has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and displaced most of the enclave’s population while pushing it into a deepening humanitarian crisis.
