The Israeli military has announced it will begin preparations for the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza City, citing safety concerns, even as health officials reported that at least 40 people were killed in recent attacks, including a baby in a tent and people waiting for aid.
The announcement comes days after Israel signalled a new offensive to seize control of Gaza City, the enclave's largest urban centre. The military said it would provide tents and shelter equipment starting Sunday ahead of relocating residents to southern Gaza. However, it did not specify when the mass displacement would begin.
On Saturday, a baby girl and her parents were killed when an airstrike hit a tent in al-Muwasi, previously designated a humanitarian safe zone by Israel. Nasser hospital officials confirmed the deaths. The Israeli military said it could not comment without more details.
In addition, the civil defence agency reported that at least 13 Palestinians were shot by troops while waiting to collect food aid. The health ministry also recorded 11 malnutrition-related deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 251 since the blockade began.
Conditions in Gaza City's Zeitun neighbourhood are rapidly deteriorating, with heavy bombardment and little access to food and water. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal described the situation as ethnic cleansing, while the Israeli military maintains it abides by international law.
