• Israel ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate due to an imminent offensive against Hamas.
• The evacuation plan has triggered panic among the city's one million residents.
• Israeli military plans include increased military operations, leading to concerns about humanitarian consequences.

On September 9, 2025, Israel's military issued a full evacuation order for residents of Gaza City, indicating an escalated military offensive aimed at seizing control of the enclave's largest urban center. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned, "Take this opportunity and listen to me carefully: you have been warned — get out of there!" The order has sparked panic and confusion as over one million residents fear there is "no safe place to go," given the widespread bombardment across the region, according to Reuters and ABC News.

Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Avichay Adraee emphasized that "staying in the city is extremely dangerous" and instructed residents to move south to Al-Mawasi, designated as a humanitarian zone. However, many residents remain, citing fears of not finding safety elsewhere and concerns over the overcrowded evacuation zones, as reported by India Times and Reuters.

The situation has become increasingly dire; Israel claims to have secured 40% of Gaza City and is organizing for a full-scale ground operation, guided by threats of a "mighty hurricane" if Hamas does not release remaining hostages. The ongoing conflict, which began with a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, has resulted in the deaths of over 64,000 Palestinians and a near-total displacement of the 2.2 million residents of Gaza, according to Reuters and India Times.

International responses to Israel's operations have included condemnations from Arab and Western nations, warning that such military actions will exacerbate the already critical humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Diplomatic discussions continue, with several European countries planning to recognize Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly, illustrating the international ramifications of the conflict, according to ABC News and India Times.