The Israeli military on Wednesday ordered an evacuation in central Gaza as it prepared for a renewed offensive, even as ceasefire talks with Hamas resumed. The directive affects residents in the Bureij refugee camp, where the military claims Palestinian militants launched rockets toward Israel.
Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X, urging residents to relocate to a designated “humanitarian zone” in Muwasi. Evacuation orders have been a regular occurrence throughout the 14-month conflict, with over 90% of Gaza’s population displaced, many forced to move multiple times.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to meet U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Adam Boehler, in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Boehler, a former aide to Jared Kushner, previously met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week.
Ceasefire negotiations have restarted after months of stagnation. The proposed deal includes a six-week halt in hostilities, during which Hamas would release 30 hostages, including dual Israeli-U.S. citizens, in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Trump has voiced support for a quick resolution to the war.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s military operations in the past 14 months. The ministry states that over half of the casualties are women and children, though it does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Israel’s military campaign began in response to Hamas’ October 2023 attack on southern Israel, where militants killed approximately 1,200 people and abducted 250 others. About 100 hostages remain in captivity.
As humanitarian concerns mount, international observers are closely watching both the ongoing ceasefire talks and the situation on the ground in Gaza.
