Sat Sep 06 12:01:40 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article, formatted for The Hindu:

**Summary:**

Amidst a devastating famine and nearly two years of ongoing conflict, the Israeli army is expanding its operations in Gaza City, targeting high-rise buildings and issuing evacuation orders to Palestinians, urging them to move to a designated “humanitarian area” in the south. Aid groups and the UN express grave concerns about the feasibility and safety of such a large-scale evacuation, given the already dire humanitarian crisis and past incidents of Israeli forces striking designated safe zones. Many Palestinians refuse to leave, citing the lack of safe havens and the challenges of moving vulnerable family members. Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza are increasing pressure on the government to prioritize their release, expressing gratitude to US President Trump for his efforts in ceasefire negotiations. The conflict, triggered by a Hamas attack in 2023, has resulted in a staggering death toll on both sides and has reached an impasse, with Israel demanding the return of hostages and Hamas disarming, while Hamas seeks a permanent ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

**News Article:**

**The Hindu – World Affairs**

**Gaza City on Brink as Israeli Offensive Intensifies; Humanitarian Crisis Deepens**

*Deir Al-Balah (Gaza Strip), September 6, 2025, 05:31 pm IST*

Amidst a crippling famine and escalating conflict, the Israeli army has issued evacuation orders to Palestinians in Gaza City, urging them to relocate to a designated “humanitarian area” in the southern Gaza Strip, known as Muwasi. The army has announced it will be targeting high-rise buildings in the city, claiming they are Hamas strongholds.

The directive, announced Saturday, affects nearly one million residents of Gaza City, a region already designated as a “red zone” due to intense fighting. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated on X that the designated area, a makeshift tent camp, would be a “humanitarian area” and include field hospitals, water pipelines, and food.

However, the announcement has been met with widespread condemnation from aid organizations and the United Nations. Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, stated that the UN and wider humanitarian community were not part of the designation. Concerns remain high given the lack of resources, safety and previous incidents of Israeli forces striking areas previously designated as safe zones, including Muwasi.

Many Palestinians have voiced their reluctance to comply with the evacuation order, citing the lack of alternative housing, the difficulty of moving the sick and elderly, and a general distrust in the safety of designated areas. “They only order us to leave from one town to another? What are we going to do with our children? Those who have an ill person, or an elderly or a wounded, where are we going to take them?” said Um Haitham, a Gaza City resident.

The escalating offensive has also ignited protests within Israel, with families of the remaining 48 hostages held in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, demanding that the government prioritize their release. Families have expressed their gratitude to US President Trump and his envoy Steve Witkoff for their efforts to get a lasting ceasefire, with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum saying Trump demonstrates that true leadership is measured by bold decisions.

The conflict, triggered by a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has resulted in a devastating toll. While Israel says the war will continue until all hostages are released, Hamas says it will only release the remaining hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
The Gaza Health Ministry estimates that over 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the Israeli offensive. The United Nations considers the Gaza Health Ministry the most reliable source on war casualties.

The situation remains dire, with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepening as the conflict enters its second year. The prospects for a ceasefire remain elusive, leaving the civilian population trapped in a cycle of violence and displacement.

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