Middle East: The Israeli army has announced that approximately 250,000 residents have evacuated from Gaza City, urging the displaced population to move toward a designated "humanitarian zone" near Khan Younis in the southern region of the Palestinian territory.
According to Deutsche Welle, the call for evacuation aligns with Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) strategy to intensify their operations against Hamas in Gaza City, as stated by Colonel Avichay Adraee, the military's Arabic-language spokesperson.
The situation in Gaza remains critical as the IDF continues its offensive, targeting high-rise buildings allegedly used by Hamas militants. The humanitarian impact is severe, with Gaza medics reporting 32 fatalities across the city amid ongoing military actions. The United Nations estimates that around one million Palestinians reside in and around Gaza City, highlighting the significant scale of displacement and potential humanitarian crisis as a result of the current conflict.
In a related development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused senior Hamas leaders based in Qatar of obstructing ceasefire efforts. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed dissatisfaction with Israel's airstrikes targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar but reaffirmed that these actions would not alter the strong U.S.-Israel alliance. Rubio emphasized the need for diplomatic discussions regarding the implications of the strikes on the broader efforts to achieve a truce in Gaza.
In Lebanon, Palestinian militias have handed over substantial quantities of weapons to the Lebanese army from the Ain al-Hilweh and Beddawi refugee camps. This disarmament is part of Beirut's initiative to neutralize non-state armed groups within its territory. The Lebanese army confirmed the receipt of eight truckloads of arms, including various types of weapons, shells, and ammunition, a move observed by AFP reporters on the ground.
In Berlin, thousands have gathered in a protest demanding peace in Gaza and an end to arms exports to conflict zones. Organized by prominent figures such as BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht, the demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate drew an estimated 8,000 participants at the onset, with organizers claiming attendance numbers reached up to 20,000. The protestors advocated for the German government to pursue peace negotiations actively in both the Middle East and Ukraine, along with a complete cessation of arms exports to all war zones. The war in Gaza erupted following a significant attack by Hamas and other Islamist groups on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in over 1,200 Israeli fatalities and 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a large-scale military operation, with Gaza health authorities, under Hamas control, reporting over 64,000 deaths since the conflict began.