Monday, 25 May 2026
Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinians killed in an overnight Israeli strike on a tent, according to Gaza's health ministry, at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, June 29, 2025.
Israel orders Gaza evacuation as new ceasefire push begins
CAIRO – The Israeli occupation forces on Sunday instructed Palestinians in northern Gaza to evacuate ahead of an anticipated escalation in its operations against Hamas, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump called for an end to the conflict, urging for renewed ceasefire negotiations.
“Make the deal in Gaza, get the hostages back,” Trump posted early Sunday on his Truth Social platform.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to receive a briefing later in the day regarding the progress of the current military campaign. A senior security source indicated that the military would report the operation is nearing its key objectives but would also caution that expanding combat into new regions could put the remaining Israeli hostages at greater risk.
The Israeli military, through statements on X and widespread text alerts, urged residents in northern Gaza to head south towards the Al-Mawasi area in Khan Younis, designated by Israel as a humanitarian zone. However, both Palestinian and U.N. officials maintain that there are no safe places left in Gaza.
“The Israel Defense Forces are operating with significant force in these areas. Military actions will intensify, expanding westward into the city center to dismantle terrorist organizations’ capabilities,” the statement read.
The evacuation order included Jabalia and most neighborhoods of Gaza City. According to medical workers and residents, Israeli strikes in the early morning in Jabalia destroyed several homes, resulting in at least six deaths.
In the southern city of Khan Younis, medics reported that five people were killed when an airstrike hit a tent camp near Mawasi.
New ceasefire initiative
The intensification of fighting occurs as Egypt and Qatar, supported by the United States, launch a renewed effort to broker a ceasefire aimed at ending the 20-month conflict and securing the release of both Israeli and foreign hostages still held by Hamas.
Interest in resolving the conflict has grown following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
A Hamas official told Reuters that the group has informed mediators of its willingness to resume ceasefire discussions, but reiterated that any agreement must include an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Hamas maintains it is prepared to release the remaining hostages—believed to number 20, who are still alive—only as part of a deal that would bring the conflict to a close. Israel insists the war can end only if Hamas is dismantled and disarmed, while Hamas has refused to surrender its weapons.
The current spike in violence stems from Hamas’ October 2023 attack, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
Israel’s military response has since killed over 56,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, forced nearly all 2.3 million residents from their homes, triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, and devastated much of the enclave.