Hamas Condemns Israeli Plan to Relocate Gaza Civilians

Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday rejected an Israeli plan to move civilians out of Gaza City, calling the proposal a “new wave of genocide and displacement” for hundreds of thousands of residents. The group said Israel’s offer to set up tents and other shelter equipment in southern Gaza was a “blatant deception” intended to mask forthcoming military action. The Israeli army has begun positioning tents and supplies ahead of what it describes as a humanitarian effort to transfer people from active combat zones in the north of the enclave. Israel earlier this month signalled plans for a renewed offensive aimed at taking full control of Gaza City. International agencies have warned repeatedly about the humanitarian toll of the nearly two-year conflict. Gaza’s health ministry says more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its campaign in response to Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and saw 251 hostages taken; Israeli officials believe about 20 hostages remain alive. The fighting has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.2 million people and devastated basic services across the strip.