Israel on Tuesday issued a sweeping evacuation order for residents of Gaza City, warning of an imminent military escalation as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) prepare to intensify ground operations in the area.

“Staying in the city is extremely dangerous,”
said IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee in a message posted on social media, urging civilians to leave “all neighborhoods” of Gaza City and head south to Al-Mawasi, a designated humanitarian zone along the coast.

The evacuation directive follows a newly approved military plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to seize control of Gaza City, the largest urban center in the blockaded Palestinian enclave. Ground operations inside the city reportedly began last week and are expected to expand in the coming days.

Israeli officials say the move is part of a broader campaign to dismantle Hamas, the militant group it has been fighting in Gaza since hostilities reignited in October 2023.

Despite the warnings, many civilians remain in Gaza City, citing multiple barriers to evacuation—including lack of transport, financial hardship, and uncertainty about conditions in the so-called humanitarian zone.

According to reports gathered by  ABC News  overcrowded tent camps and limited food and water supplies in the south have left most people in fear of  leaving, while others expressed doubts about the safety of evacuation routes amid ongoing airstrikes.

The evacuation order follows a video address by Netanyahu on Monday, in which he urged Gaza City residents to flee.

“Listen carefully: You have been warned. Leave now,”
Netanyahu said in a message broadcast on Telegram, signaling a decisive phase in Israel’s military campaign.