GAZA: Israel’s order to forcibly displace one million people from Ga...

Credit: Ahmed Younis/CARE

SEPTEMBER 11, 2025 - Israel's Tuesday order to forcibly displace one million people from Gaza City to the south will cause immense suffering for Palestinians in Gaza. The announcement comes after the intensification of airstrikes across the city and the levelling of dozens of high-rise towers and residential buildings over the past week. More than 50 Palestinians were killed across Gaza on Wednesday.

Forcing one million people to leave their homes and places of shelter, most of whom have already been displaced multiple times, will push an already catastrophic humanitarian situation over the edge. Children under five, and pregnant and breastfeeding women are among those at greatest risk from famine in Gaza City. Deciding whether to stay or leave is an almost impossible choice for people exhausted by war and who have no guarantee of shelter or safety in the south.

"Forced displacement on such a massive scale will have disastrous consequences for a population that has endured almost two years of bombardment, starvation and repeated displacement," said Beckie Ryan, CARE's Gaza Response Director. "Pushing them into an overcrowded so-called humanitarian zone that lacks dignified shelter, safe water, sanitation, transportation, safety and privacy, while also targeting those areas, will further deepen people's suffering."

On Tuesday, the Israeli army issued an order demanding that all residents of Gaza City leave. Israel re-announced the designation of Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, as a 'humanitarian zone'. In reality, this is a forced displacement area that suffers from overcrowding and a lack of safety. From May 2024 to January 2025, the area was attacked about 100 times despite being designated as a 'humanitarian safe zone'. As recently as last week, five children were reportedly killed in an attack on the area while they were fetching water. Over 86 per cent of Gaza now falls within Israeli-militarized zones or areas placed under displacement orders.

"We are already witnessing a large movement of people displaced to Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, arriving in trucks filled to the brim with whatever they could salvage to make life somewhat bearable where they arrive: water tanks, toilet seats, bedding and scrap materials to build their own makeshift tents," added Ryan. "Israeli authorities have repeatedly rejected CARE's requests to bring in new supplies, including shelter material, hygiene items, baby kits and medical supplies. However, CARE continues to deliver life saving supplies provided by UN partners to support those impacted by the ongoing violence."

In the south, CARE distributes clean water and limited supplies of fresh vegetables procured locally, and delivers protection activities. CARE's primary healthcare center in Deir Al-Balah provides lifesaving primary health services, including maternal and reproductive health, nutritional support, as well as consultations and prescriptions for chronic illness and non-communicable diseases. CARE's clinic has already witnessed a 50 per cent surge of patients in recent weeks, serving up to 300 people daily, with a drastic increase in the number of people queuing outside.

Palestinian organizations still based in the north, supported by CARE, continue to deliver lifesaving aid, including water trucking and water infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation projects, as well as healthcare services at mobile clinics and health centers.

In recent weeks, Juzoor, one of CARE's partners, began relocating medical points located in eastern Gaza City to the west, following an escalation of destruction from military operations. After the latest mass displacement order, Juzoor made the decision to move medical equipment to the south in anticipation of the need to relocate services to provide healthcare services, including maternal healthcare.

Needs will dramatically increase in Al-Mawasi as new arrivals continue, leading to even further overcrowding of an area already packed with families displaced by the escalating violence. As obligated by international law, civilians must be protected from attack and must not be forcibly displaced by conflict. Humanitarian organizations must be able to work freely and safely to support those in need of assistance, wherever they are. Israel must lift restrictions on humanitarian assistance, as well as allow the entry of commercial goods, to prevent further suffering of the starving and besieged people of Gaza.

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