Anticipated Exodus of Approximately One Million Gazans as Per Israel's announcement Concerning Upcoming Offensive

In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Israeli authorities anticipate that up to one million Palestinians may flee south from Gaza as the Israeli military intensifies combat operations.

Eyal Zamir, an Israeli military official, has announced the intensification of military operations. The Israeli military is building up forces for an offensive to seize Gaza City, the largest urban centre in the Palestinian territory. This move comes after approximately 70,000 Palestinians have already fled Gaza's north due to the Israeli advance.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. Palestinians in Al-Mawasi, a coastal area designated by Israel as a humanitarian zone in the early days of the war, have little or no access to essential services and supplies, including food, water, electricity, and tents, as stated by the UN human rights office spokesman in mid-August. Despite this designation, Israel has repeatedly struck Al-Mawasi.

The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life. According to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures, the 2023 Hamas attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza reports that the Israeli retaliatory offensive has killed at least 63,746 Palestinians, most of them civilians.

The conflict has also resulted in the seizure of hostages. Of the 251 hostages seized during the Hamas attack, 47 are still in Gaza, including 25 the Israeli military says are dead. Families of these hostages, along with Israeli anti-war groups, are organizing a three-day protest in Jerusalem, culminating on the 700th day since the Palestinian group Hamas launched its attack on Israel in October 2023.

Anat Angrest, the mother of a soldier held in Gaza, appeals to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the release of her son. Nira Sharabi, whose husband was killed in captivity, calls for an end to the war, stating that military pressure endangers the lives of hostages and jeopardizes the possibility of bringing back the dead.

Negotiations for the release of the remaining hostages are ongoing, with Israel stating it will start immediate negotiations for the release of all remaining hostages under conditions acceptable to Israel. However, no agreement has yet been reached, and pressure continues to increase on Hamas through military advances and diplomatic efforts involving mediators such as the USA, Qatar, and Egypt.

Hamas accepted a new truce proposal that includes phased hostage release last month, but Israel has not responded formally. As the situation in Gaza continues to worsen, both sides face increasing pressure to find a resolution to end the conflict and alleviate the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.