Palestinians fear these are the last days of the Gaza Strip as they know itpublished at 11:21 British Summer Time
Paul Adams
Diplomatic correspondent, reporting from Jerusalem
Today’s Israeli military order, coupled with the systematic targeting of buildings housing thousands of Palestinians, mark the latest escalation of an Israeli effort to evacuate all remaining civilians from northern Gaza.
Many have already left, but far greater numbers remain. They include tens of thousands of residents who heeded similar orders in the early weeks of the war but who have vowed not to repeat the experience.
After spending a year or more constantly on the move, in places like Khan Younis, Rafah and al-Mawasi, they flooded back to Gaza City during the ceasefire earlier this year.
They joined several hundred thousand others who had stayed put.
They all know the fate of other places that were evacuated. Some, like Rafah, have been almost obliterated.
Israeli officials have warned that Gaza City will suffer the same fate, which may encourage some to leave but will stiffen the resolve of others to stay.
Once Gaza City is destroyed, the Israeli military is expected to turn its attention to the Strip’s last somewhat intact towns and refugee camps – Deir el-Balah, Nuseirat and Bureij.
Palestinians fear that these are the last days of the Gaza Strip as they know it.