Overview

• Israel’s government ordered the military to prepare a generalized assault on Gaza City, describing goals of defeating Hamas and securing the return of hostages taken on October 7, 2023.
• The ICRC’s president, Mirjana Spoljaric, warned that a large-scale evacuation is unworkable and would not meet basic standards of safety and dignity under the present siege.
• UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said nearly one million people in the Gaza governorate have nowhere safe to go or the means to move, as thousands of residents have already fled the city.
• Israeli operations intensified Saturday around Gaza City with strikes reported in Sabra, Zeitoun and Sheikh Radouane, and the army said two soldiers were wounded by an explosive device in the north.
• The army called evacuation of the urban area “inevitable,” ended the local humanitarian pause in the city, and reported recovering the remains of Ilan Weiss and another hostage while asserting control over roughly 75% of Gaza.