The Israeli military reiterates its warning to Palestinians to evacuate north-should-trust-me-peter-obi/” title=”2027: … should trust me — Peter Obi”>northern Gaza for the south and avoid returning to Gaza City.
Published On 4 Oct 2025
Following persistent warnings, the Israeli military has urged Palestinians in northern Gaza to relocate southward, emphasizing that the northern region remains an active conflict zone. This announcement comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump called for a halt to Israeli airstrikes, following Hamas’s partial acceptance of his ceasefire proposal.
On Saturday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) posted on X that the territory north of Wadi Gaza-including the heavily damaged Gaza City-continues to be classified as a hazardous combat area. Residents were instructed to move southward using Rashid Street, the coastal corridor. The IDF also highlighted that Gaza City remains encircled by Israeli forces, warning that any attempts to return carry substantial danger.
Meanwhile, southern Gaza is overwhelmed with hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians crammed into congested shelters, all yearning for the chance to return to their homes in the north.
“We had been hoping for this positive development. We awaited Hamas’s acceptance, wishing for our lives to improve or at least return to normal,” shared a displaced resident from Nuseirat in central Gaza with Al Jazeera, choosing to remain anonymous. “We are optimistic about further progress and eager to go back to Gaza City.”
The relentless bombardment has devastated Gaza City, the region’s largest urban center, resulting in daily casualties, widespread destruction of homes and schools, and forcing tens of thousands to flee southward under perilous conditions.
Since mid-August, when Israeli forces intensified their offensive on Gaza City, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has documented over 400,000 movements from northern to southern Gaza, primarily toward Deir el-Balah and Khan Younis.
This mass displacement escalated after the IDF began demolishing numerous high-rise buildings in early September, culminating in a comprehensive evacuation order for Gaza City on September 9.
The military’s latest advisory follows Hamas’s announcement late Friday that it has agreed to certain aspects of the White House’s 20-point framework, including the release of all hostages. However, Hamas indicated that further discussions are necessary on other points. This partial acceptance was met with cautious approval from President Trump and international leaders, despite unresolved issues such as Israeli troop withdrawal and Hamas’s disarmament.
In the early hours of Saturday, the IDF stated that its chief of staff had directed forces to “increase preparedness” for the initial phase of implementing Trump’s plan concerning the release of captives. Although the exact military implications remain unclear, Israeli media reported a shift toward defensive postures by the troops.
Despite this, airstrikes across Gaza persisted on Saturday morning, albeit with reduced intensity. Medical sources informed Al Jazeera that at least seven fatalities occurred since dawn.
