Reports from the southern Gaza Strip indicate a destabilizing new development as Israeli forces have ordered dozens of Palestinian families to evacuate their homes. This marks the first such ordered displacement since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took hold in October 2025. Residents of the Al-Raqab neighborhood, east of Khan Younis, reported that Israeli drones dropped leaflets warning the area was now under army control and instructing immediate departure for safety. Local sources state the targeted zone is only tens of meters from Israeli positions, despite ceasefire provisions meant to restrict military expansion.
This ordered evacuation compounds a severe and ongoing humanitarian crisis. The UN warns the situation is "far from being over," with lives defined by displacement, trauma, and deprivation. A devastating winter storm has destroyed thousands of makeshift tents, leaving families exposed to freezing rain and cold. The harsh conditions have reversed fragile humanitarian gains, with reports of children dying from hypothermia and collapsing shelters causing fatalities. Although aid delivery has increased since the ceasefire, UN officials stress that current efforts are only a "Band-Aid" solution against immense, unmet needs for durable shelter, healthcare, and food.
The evacuation orders occur amid a stalled political process. While the U.S. has announced the start of a second ceasefire phase involving Hamas relinquishing control, key issues like disarmament remain unresolved. A new Palestinian technocratic committee, led by Dr. Ali Shaath, has been formed to manage Gaza's day-to-day affairs and reconstruction. Hamas has stated it is prepared to transfer civilian administration to this independent committee. However, significant disagreements persist between the parties, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of breaching the ceasefire terms.
Parallel to these developments, reports suggest some senior Hamas political leaders are preparing for a voluntary "safe exit" from Gaza under arrangements linked to the ceasefire's future phases. Sources indicate these figures may relocate to other countries, potentially without returning for several years. This reported move coincides with the complex transition of governance to the technocratic committee and ongoing disputes over the core issue of disarmament, leaving Gaza's political future uncertain.