Gaza city: The United Nations has announced that Israeli occupation forces have issued a new "forced displacement" order affecting neighborhoods in Khan Yunis, a region in the southern Gaza Strip home to 80,000 people. This development highlights the severe impact of displacement orders, with approximately 85% of Gaza's territory reportedly under such orders.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, UN Spokesman St©phane Dujarric revealed during a press conference that nearly 714,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced from their homes one or more times in Gaza since the ceasefire collapsed last March. Dujarric emphasized the critical humanitarian challenges faced by the displaced, as vast areas of Gaza are now designated as military zones, restricting access to essential aid and hindering relief efforts.
Dujarric further noted the dire conditions in Gaza, where no shelter aid has been allowed for four months despite the rising number of displaced individuals. Surveys conducted by UN partners indicate that 97% of these displaced individuals are forced to sleep in open areas, exposing them to harsh weather conditions and other vulnerabilities.
These forced displacement orders coincide with renewed calls from Israeli officials advocating for further displacements. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen recently emphasized the need for a vigorous implementation of plans to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, underscoring the ongoing tensions in the region.