Israel orders full evacuation of Gaza city as war enters final phase

September 9, 2025

Israel has ordered the complete evacuation of Gaza City as troops prepare for a swift ground offensive on Hamas’s last remaining stronghold, warning nearly one million residents that they face “extreme danger” if they remain there.

IDF officials issued the broad evacuation order today in Arabic via leaflets dropped from aircraft and SMS messages sent directly to residents’ phones. All Gaza City residents must evacuate immediately via the al-Rashid Corridor in the humanitarian areas of southern Gaza.

The military statement warned that “the IDF is determined to defeat Hamas and will act forcefully in Gaza City, as it has done across the Strip. “Living in the area is very dangerous.”

Several hundred Gaza residents took to the streets in a protest march, declaring that they would not move south.

“We will not give up,” and “Stay strong in Gaza,” protesters held banners with similar messages. Abu Salman al-Mani, the leader of the Supreme Authority for Clans in Gaza, called for the march to “resist the deportation plans” and put pressure on the international community. “We will not give up on Gaza,” said one protester. This is our last stronghold, and we will remain here with patience and determination.”

Some 100,000 civilians have already fled the city in recent days. However, an estimated 900,000 still remain, including some Israeli hostages.

An Israeli security source, while acknowledging that the number of evacuees was currently low, said that authorities believe the movement will increase in the coming days as residents “realize that we are serious.”

A Qatari news channel is reporting that despite Hamas’s opposition, Gazans are moving south from the northern Gaza Strip and Gaza City. The report suggests that the displacement is taking place even as Hamas tries to prevent residents from leaving.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that Israeli forces have already destroyed “50 terrorist towers” ​​in Gaza City. has, emphasizing that this is only the beginning of a swift ground operation.

“I promised you a few days ago that we would destroy the terrorist towers in Gaza. That is exactly what we are doing,” Netanyahu said in a Hebrew video statement from the Israeli Air Force’s operations center.

“In the past two days, 50 of these towers have fallen. Now all this is just an introduction, just a prelude, to the main intensive operation, a ground exercise of our forces, which are now organizing and gathering in Gaza City.”

Netanyahu directly addressed the residents of Gaza City who had not yet evacuated what he repeatedly calls Hamas’s “last stronghold.” “Take this as your warning,” he said. “Leave now!”

According to military spokesman’s statements, Israeli forces currently control about 40% of Gaza City and 75% of the entire Gaza Strip. The operation, dubbed “Gideon’s Chariot II,” is aimed at fulfilling Israel’s military objectives following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and about 250 people were taken hostage.

Initially, the Gaza City operation was only Will be partial. IDF soldiers will quickly gain operational control, but will not enter every neighborhood. The IDF and the political group also know that the hostages are either located in Gaza City, or will be sent out of Gaza City during the operation, and may be killed as a result.