Israel has announced preparations to forcibly evacuate Palestinians from "combat zones" to southern Gaza from Sunday, days after it announced a new offensive to seize control of Gaza City, the enclave's largest urban centre, reports Al Jazeera.
The army's Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on Saturday that residents would be provided with tents and other shelter equipment transported through the Karem Abu Salem, or Kerem Shalom, crossing by the United Nations and international relief organisations.
The UN has not commented on the plan or on its alleged role in providing humanitarian assistance.
The statement comes less than a week after Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that the military had been given the green light to "dismantle" what he described as two remaining Hamas strongholds: Gaza City in the north and al-Mawasi further to the south.
The army has not specified whether the shelter equipment was intended for Gaza City's population, estimated at around one million people presently, and whether the site to which they will be relocated in southern Gaza would be the area of Rafah, near the border with Egypt.
The UN did not immediately comment on the Israeli announcement; however, it warned on Thursday that thousands of families already enduring appalling humanitarian conditions could be pushed over the edge if the Gaza City plan moves ahead.
The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas, described the military's announcement as "part of its brutal attack to occupy Gaza City" and "a blatant and brazen mockery of international conventions."
"Forcing people to flee amidst starvation, massacres, and displacement is an ongoing crime against humanity. Criminal behaviour in Gaza is inseparable from the daily crimes committed by the occupation in the occupied West Bank," the group said in a statement.
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