Israel orders Gaza families to move in first forced evacuation since ceasefire

Most of Gaza’s 2m people are confined to a third of the enclave, living in tents or ruins

Israeli forces have ordered dozens of Palestinian families in the southern Gaza Strip to leave their homes, residents and Hamas officials said on Tuesday, marking the first forced evacuation since a ceasefire brokered by the United States took effect in October.

Residents of Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Younis, said Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets on Monday over families living in tent encampments in the Al-Reqeb neighbourhood.

“Urgent message. The area is under IDF (Israel Defence Forces) control. You must evacuate immediately,” the leaflets read. They were written in Arabic, Hebrew and English.

In the two-year conflict before the ceasefire was signed in October, Israel frequently dropped leaflets over areas that were later raided or bombarded, forcing families to move multiple times. Residents and a source from Hamas said this was the first time such leaflets had been dropped since the ceasefire.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sides far apart on next phases

The ceasefire has not progressed beyond its first phase, under which major fighting has stopped, Israel withdrew from less than half of Gaza, and Hamas released hostages in exchange for Palestinian captives.

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Nearly Gaza’s entire population of more than two million people is now confined to roughly a third of the enclave, mostly living in makeshift tents or damaged buildings, where life has resumed under the control of a Hamas-led administration.

Israel and Hamas have accused each other of major breaches of the ceasefire and remain far apart on the more difficult steps planned for subsequent phases.

Mahmoud, a resident of Bani Suhaila who declined to give his family name, said the evacuation orders affected at least 70 families living in tents and partially damaged homes.

“We have fled the area and relocated westward. It is maybe the fourth or fifth time the occupation expanded the yellow line since last month,” he told Reuters by phone from Khan Younis, referring to the line behind which Israeli forces have withdrawn.

“Each time they move it around 120 to 150 metres inside the Palestinian-controlled territory, swallowing more land,” said the father of three.

Hamas cites humanitarian disruption

Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Gaza government media office, said Israeli forces had expanded the area under their control in eastern Khan Younis five times since the ceasefire, displacing at least 9,000 people.

The body of three-month old Palestinian baby Shatha Abu Jarad, who died of cold weather according to medics, is carried by her uncle at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on January 20, 2026. PHOTO: AFP

“On Monday, Jan 19, 2026, the Israeli occupation forces dropped warning leaflets demanding the forced evacuation of the Bani Suhaila area in eastern Khan Younis governorate, as part of a policy of intimidation and pressure on civilians,” Thawabta told Reuters.

He said the latest orders affected about 3,000 people.

“The move created a state of humanitarian disruption, increased pressure on already limited shelter areas, and further deepened the internal displacement crisis in the governorate,” he added.

Israel’s military has previously said it opened fire after identifying what it described as “terrorists” crossing the yellow line and approaching its troops, posing an immediate threat. It has continued to carry out air strikes and targeted operations across Gaza.

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The military has said it views “with utmost severity” any attempts by groups in Gaza to attack Israel.

Under future phases of the ceasefire, which have yet to be agreed, US President Donald Trump’s plan envisages Hamas disarming, further Israeli withdrawals and the establishment of an internationally backed administration to rebuild Gaza.

More than 460 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been reported killed since the ceasefire took effect.

Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after an Oct 7, 2023, attack by Hamas-led fighters that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s assault has killed 71,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities.