This is the army's first call for the entire city to flee. Previously, such calls had only been issued for individual districts. The Israeli army also provided a number in case people encounter Hamas roadblocks or are otherwise prevented from fleeing by the Islamists.

Military: Will proceed “with great intensity”

The people of Gaza City were called upon to go to the southern area of al-Mawasi near Khan Yunis, which has been designated a"humanitarian zone." However, the Israeli military has also carried out several attacks there in the past. According to army sources, the targets were Hamas facilities, for example.

They will act"with great intensity" in the city to defeat the Islamist terrorist organization, as they have already done throughout the coastal strip, a military spokesperson said. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that the military would escalate its offensive into a"massive hurricane" if Hamas did not release the last hostages and surrender. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged residents to flee:"You have been warned. Get out of there!" he said.

Reuters: Partial panic among the population

Gaza City was recently home to around one million people. According to Netanyahu, 100,000 Palestinians have already left the area. Aid organizations warned of a further worsening of the already catastrophic situation of the civilian population.

The evacuation orders triggered panic among some people in the city. Some told Reuters they had no choice but to go to the south of the coastal strip, which was already overcrowded with refugees. Most, however, said they would stay because no other place was safe.

Civil Defense: 38 dead in Gaza City after attacks

According to Netanyahu, 50 high-rise buildings were destroyed in the city in the past two days. The Israeli army claimed that Hamas had used the buildings. According to the Hamas-controlled Civil Defense Agency, at least 38 people were killed in the attacks in the city on Monday, and a total of 59 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip.

Diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire

The announced Israeli offensive is complicating efforts for a ceasefire. Qatar urged the Hamas leadership in talks in Doha on Monday to respond"positively" to the latest ceasefire and hostage deal proposed by the United States, a source briefed on the talks told Reuters.

Hamas said it had received some ideas for a ceasefire agreement from the US and was discussing how these ideas could be further developed with mediators. Israel has accepted a ceasefire proposal from US President Donald Trump, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Monday.

The draft stipulates that negotiations on the conditions for ending the war will begin after the ceasefire begins. According to the online newspaper Times of Israel, Netanyahu has not yet held a cabinet meeting to discuss the proposal. His far-right coalition partners have so far rejected a ceasefire.

Major Hamas attack triggered war

The Gaza War was triggered by the major attack by Hamas and its allied groups on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which, according to Israeli sources, around 1,200 people were killed. 251 people were taken hostage to the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli authorities, 20 of the 48 remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip are still alive.

According to the Hamas Health Authority, more than 64,500 people have been killed in Gaza. It does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. Israel disputes the number of civilian casualties.