Israel has asked Palestinians in northern Gaza to move south of the enclave, saying they will be safer there as the army attacks Hamas. However, Israeli warplanes continued to strike targets in southern Gaza, spreading fear among evacuees that they are as vulnerable there as in their homes in the north, Reuters writes.

Why is Israel striking in the south?

Since the people of Gaza were ordered to move south, the Israeli military (IDF) has continued to strike targets in the area, killing civilians. In total, 6,546 Palestinians have been killed since Israeli attacks began on October 7, according to Gaza authorities. According to residents, on October 25, shelling from the south intensified. Several residential buildings in Khan Yunis, about 10 km from the border with Egypt, were destroyed by an Israeli airstrike.

The IDF said that although the main center of power of Hamas is in Gaza City, the organization penetrates throughout the enclave.

“Wherever a Hamas target appears, the IDF will strike it to destroy the group’s capabilities while taking possible precautions to mitigate civilian casualties,” the military said Wednesday, repeating earlier statements.

The army said all houses where Hamas militants live are “legitimate targets”, even if civilians live next to them.

“A so-called private house is not a private house,” a senior Israeli air force officer told reporters at a recent briefing.

How many people moved?

Despite efforts by Hamas to stem the exodus, residents and international organizations say there has been a mass movement of people from the north and other areas of the enclave, considered particularly vulnerable to attack.

On October 24, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that more than 1.4 million people are internally displaced in Gaza.

Gaza’s border crossings with Egypt and Israel are closed, effectively detaining residents of the enclave.

On October 12, the Israeli military said that almost half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people must move to the southern part of the strip within 24 hours. The Israel Defense Forces said the order was aimed at diverting civilians away from “Hamas targets”, which it believed were concentrated in the north.

Army spokesman Jonathan Conricus later said: “We are preparing the area for significant military activity in Gaza City. This is the next stage. Therefore, we are asking civilians to go south of the Gaza River.”

Israel has concentrated troops on the border with Gaza and is expected to launch a ground invasion. On October 18, the army called on Gazans to evacuate to the so-called humanitarian zone in al-Mawas, on the southern coast of Gaza. On October 22, Israel followed up on its warnings, saying that anyone remaining in the north could be identified as a supporter of a “terrorist organization” if they did not leave.