In response to a Hamas assault and amid escalating violence, Israel issued a directive on the seventh day of the conflict, urging hundreds of thousands of Gaza City residents to evacuate to safer areas within Gaza. This move follows Israel’s warning of a possible evacuation of all 1.1 million people from the northern part of the Gaza Strip, a territory densely populated and controlled by Hamas. The Israeli military cited concerns that Hamas militants were hiding in tunnels under the city. This development raises concerns of a potential ground offensive, with broad evacuation orders affecting both civilians and UN staff, prompting humanitarian concerns.