Hamas rejects Israel’s Gaza relocation plan, calls it “Genocide and Displacement”

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CAIRO: Hamas has strongly condemned Israel’s plan to relocate residents from Gaza City, describing it as a “new wave of genocide and displacement” for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in the area.

In a statement on Sunday, Hamas called Israel’s proposed deployment of tents and other shelter materials to southern Gaza a “blatant deception.” It argued that the plan, presented as a humanitarian effort to protect civilians, was instead a cover for what it described as a “brutal crime” by Israeli forces.

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The Israeli military announced that it would begin deploying tents and other shelter equipment starting Sunday, as part of its strategy to move residents from northern Gaza to the southern part of the enclave, which Israel claims will ensure their safety amid ongoing military operations. Israel’s goal is to seize control of northern Gaza City, the largest urban center in the region, which has been heavily affected by the conflict.

Hamas, however, rejected the notion of a voluntary relocation and condemned it as an attempt to further displace Palestinians in Gaza. “This is not about safety; it’s about the systematic destruction of Gaza and its people,” the statement read.

The relocation plan comes amid Israel’s announcement earlier this month of an impending offensive aimed at fully capturing northern Gaza City. The announcement has raised widespread concern internationally about the fate of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents, many of whom have already been displaced due to the ongoing conflict.

The war, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel, has led to significant casualties on both sides. Israel’s official death toll from that attack stands at 1,200, with 251 people taken hostage. As of now, about 20 of the remaining 50 hostages are believed to still be alive in Gaza.

Also read: Israeli military prepares to relocate residents to southern Gaza

Israel’s retaliatory military strikes against Hamas have killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. In addition to the staggering loss of life, the conflict has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with millions facing hunger, a lack of basic necessities, and widespread destruction. The war has displaced most of Gaza’s population, and the enclave’s infrastructure is in ruins.