Gaza City Faces Mass Evacuation Orders As Trump Pushes For Ceasefire.
The Israeli military issued sweeping evacuation orders on Sunday, 29 June 2025, directing residents of multiple Gaza City neighbourhoods to flee south towards the Al-Mawasi area, as it signalled an escalation of operations against Hamas. The move, affecting areas including eastern and northern Gaza City and the Jabaliya refugee camp, comes amid renewed calls from US President Donald Trump for a ceasefire to end the 20-month conflict and secure the release of hostages.
The orders, announced by military spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee via social media, warned that Israeli forces would intensify attacks westward towards Gaza City’s centre to “destroy terrorist infrastructure.” Residents were urged to relocate to Al-Mawasi, a designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza, though rights groups have condemned such directives as forcible displacement. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported at least 86 deaths from Israeli strikes in the 24 hours before midday Sunday, including three children in Al-Mawasi’s “safe zone,” highlighting the dire risks facing civilians.
President Trump intensified pressure for a resolution, posting on Truth Social, “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!” He expressed optimism on Friday, suggesting a ceasefire could be reached within a week, stating, “We’re working on Gaza and trying to get it taken care of.” The US, alongside Qatari and Egyptian mediators, has proposed a 60-day ceasefire that would see Hamas release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others, in exchange for Israel freeing 125 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,111 other detainees. However, negotiations remain stalled, with Hamas demanding a permanent end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal, while Israel insists on Hamas disarming and going into exile.
The evacuation orders have deepened Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. The United Nations described the territory as “the hungriest place on Earth,” with 390,000 people displaced in recent weeks and half a million facing starvation. Israel’s blockade, partially eased after 11 weeks, has restricted aid, with the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) criticised as a “killing field” by UN officials due to attacks near aid distribution sites.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, buoyed by public support following a 12-day war with Iran, faces domestic pressure to secure the release of approximately 50 remaining hostages, with less than half believed to be alive. His security cabinet met on Sunday to discuss expanding operations, though a senior official warned that further escalation could endanger hostages. Meanwhile, Trump controversially called for Netanyahu’s corruption trial to be dropped, labelling it a “political witch hunt” that hampers ceasefire talks.
Palestinian residents expressed despair at the renewed displacement. Ahmed al-Ejla, a 30-year-old from eastern Gaza City, told *The New York Times*, “We feel helpless,” as he fled with his family to western Gaza City after nearby strikes. Social media posts on X reflected widespread frustration, with one user stating, “Israel slams Trump’s ceasefire remarks as ‘wishful thinking,’ showing no intent to stop.”
As mediators intensify efforts, with Israeli Minister Ron Dermer set to visit Washington for talks, the international community is urging restraint. The war, sparked by Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, has claimed over 56,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. With no safe haven left in Gaza, as noted by UN and Palestinian officials, the evacuation orders underscore the urgent need for a lasting ceasefire to avert further catastrophe.
