Israel says it is relocating large numbers of Palestinians from active combat zones in Gaza to the southern part of the Strip, as preparations for a new military offensive near completion.
The Israeli military agency responsible for humanitarian coordination in Gaza—the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT)—announced that the delivery of tents to the enclave would continue on Sunday.
While no date was given for when the mass relocation would begin, defence minister Israel Katz stated on social media that planning is in its final stages.
“We are now developing a plan to defeat Hamas in Gaza and bring back the hostages,” Katz wrote on X. His statement came just a week after Israel’s security cabinet approved a military operation to capture the city of Gaza—a move that marks a slight shift from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s earlier promise to take control of the entire Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continue across the enclave. According to figures from the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, at least 54 people have been killed in the past 24 hours.
Israel launched its offensive following Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7th, 2023, which killed 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and saw 251 taken hostage. Hamas is still believed to be holding around 50 hostages in Gaza, with only 20 reportedly still alive.
