Gaza's collapsed shelter capacity cannot support more civilian evacuations - media office

THE Gaza Strip can no longer support another round of civilian evacuations because its shelter capacity has collapsed, the enclave's media office said in a statement on Sunday.

AI Brief

Over 2.4 million Palestinians face severe hardship with limited aid and no safe zones for evacuation.
Israeli forces expand operations into Gaza City, sparking fears of a full-scale invasion.
Hamas proposes a truce and prisoner exchange, but accuses Netanyahu of blocking a deal despite mediation efforts.

According to the statement, more than 2.4 million Palestinians are facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis as Israel threatens to launch an offensive on Gaza City in the Strip's north, home to more than 1 million people.

The statement noted that since Israel announced it would allow the entry of housing supplies such as tents into the Gaza Strip, only about 10,000 had been delivered, accounting for about 4 percent of the 250,000 tents needed. This shortfall, it said, highlights Israel's delays and control over the flow of emergency humanitarian aid.

Currently, Israeli restrictions on international organizations have left the Gaza Strip without tents or other essential supplies, plunging hundreds of thousands of displaced people into severe hardship.

With the Israeli military now controlling about 77 percent of Gaza, the southern part of the enclave has no space left for safe evacuations, rendering any new round of civilian evacuations nearly impossible and life-threatening.

The notice called for immediate, effective international action to prevent the Israeli military from seizing Gaza City, and urged the unconditional, urgent delivery of relief supplies.

The Israeli army on Sunday expanded its ground operations in and around Gaza City, pushing tanks into residential neighborhoods under the cover of airstrikes and artillery fire, heightening fears of a full-scale invasion of the densely populated enclave.

Residents said Israeli armor rolled into the Zeitoun and al-Sabra districts south of Gaza City, and into Jabalia in the north, as warplanes pounded buildings and homes. Explosions and "fire belts" -- strips of land set ablaze by incendiary munitions -- were reported, forcing dozens of families to flee westward and southward in search of safety.

The Israeli military said its forces had re-entered Jabalia to "further degrade Hamas' military capabilities," dismantling infrastructure above and below ground and preventing fighters from returning. "The troops' activity enables the expansion of combat into additional areas," it said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Hamas said it had agreed to a partial prisoner exchange and was ready for a full truce, but accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of blocking a deal despite mediation by Egypt and Qatar. Hamas said only a ceasefire could secure the release of all Israeli hostages and held Netanyahu responsible for their fate.