Israel orders mass expulsion from Gaza City as it flattens residential towers

Israel has issued expulsion orders for nearly one million Palestinian residents of Gaza City ahead of a planned ground offensive to occupy the famine-stricken city.

On Tuesday, residents were ordered to move south to the al-Mawasi area in Khan Younis, a narrow coastal strip that represents just three percent of Gaza, and is already severely overcrowded with hundreds of thousands of displaced people.

The Israeli military described al-Mawasi as a “humanitarian zone”, despite repeatedly bombing the area, including as recently as Monday.

The order comes as Israeli forces continue to heavily bombard Gaza City, amid a shelling campaign that began nearly a month ago and is now intensifying.

It follows Israel’s declared decision to occupy the Gaza Strip, starting with the seizure of Gaza City.

Read more: Israel orders mass expulsion from Gaza City as it flattens residential towers