What's New
The Israeli military issued an evacuation order in central Gaza on Wednesday ahead of a planned offensive, while Israel and Hamas appeared to be edging closer to a ceasefire in the ongoing 14-month conflict.
The order specifically targeted four residential blocks in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. Israel Defense Forces claim that Palestinian militants fired rockets toward Israel from the area, prompting the evacuation.
Why It Matters
The military advised residents to move to a "humanitarian zone" in the Muwasi area, though such zones have become increasingly overcrowded throughout the war. The evacuation order comes while efforts to broker a ceasefire and release of hostages appears to be gaining momentum after a lengthy pause in negotiations.
Despite the military's ongoing bombardment, which has killed over 45,000 Palestinians according to Gazan Health Ministry figures, there are signs that both sides may be willing to negotiate.
The affect of continuous evacuations is profound, with over 90 percent of Gaza's population displaced at some point during the conflict, which was sparked on Oct 7. 2023 when Hamas killed some 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostage, with 100 still in captivity with many feared dead.
The humanitarian crisis continues to escalate as the Israeli military prepares for further offensives while talks for peace persist.
What to Know
On the diplomatic front, Israeli President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's Mideast envoy, Adam Boehler, in Jerusalem.
This meeting marks another step in the efforts to broker a ceasefire and release hostages.
Boehler, a former aide to Jared Kushner, met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week. The current ceasefire proposal includes a six-week pause in fighting, during which Hamas would release 30 hostages in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
What People Are Saying
Avichay Adraee, Israeli military spokesman, posted on X: "This is an advance warning ahead of an offensive. For your own safety, move immediately to the humanitarian zone."
Bassem Naim, Hamas official: "As long as we are people under occupation, we have all the right to resist this occupation by all means, including armed resistance."
Israel Katz, Israeli Defense Minister: "We all estimate that an opportunity is being created following Hamas' need to become more flexible, and I really hope we can advance to a practical stage in this process."
What Happens Next
The diplomatic push for a ceasefire continues, and the international community awaits the outcomes of the negotiations.
Meanwhile, Israel's military plans for a major offensive in Gaza may reshape the course of the conflict, depending on the outcome of talks and hostilities.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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