War in Middle East: Israel’s army shows area in Gaza as the “humanitarian zone”

In front of an expected major offensive in the city of Gaza, the Israeli army has shown a coastal area in southern Gaza strip as so -called humanitarian zone. The area of ​​al-Mawasi near Chan Junis has essential humanitarian infrastructure such as field hospitals, water pipes and desalination plants, an Arab-speaking army spokesman said. Humanitarian aid is also delivered there.

The spokesman asked the residents of the city of Gaza in the northern Gaza Strip to go to the al-Mawasi area as soon as possible. The Israeli army had already declared the small area on the Mediterranean coast into a “humanitarian zone” in December 2023. At that time she had acted against the Islamist Hamas in northern and middle Gaza Strip and asked the civilian population there to go to Al-Mawasi.

The zone is already considered hopelessly overcrowded. According to the UN information, 425,000 people stayed there in June this year on an area of ​​around nine square kilometers. They live in huge tent camps. UN organizations describe the equipment with latrines and community toilets as well as waste disposal as insufficient. The capacities of the field clinics are also insufficient in view of the large number of people.

Israel’s government plans to take the city of Gaza military in the war against Hamas in the north of the sealed coastal area. The Israeli armed forces are currently preparing a corresponding offensive. In the past few days they have strengthened the air raids. According to estimates, almost a million people are said to be in the city of Gaza. So far, less than 100,000 have left the city because of the upcoming offensive.