The Israeli military issued broad evacuation orders on Sunday for neighborhoods of Gaza City, amid growing calls for a cease-fire deal from President Trump.
The notifications for residents to leave certain parts of Gaza City, where Israeli troops have refrained from operating in recent months, came as the military warned of an intensification of operations aimed at expanding westward toward the city center. Civilians were instructed to move south.
It remains unclear whether the evacuation orders signal a new phase in the military offensive, a return to previously contested areas, or serve as a pressure tactic to compel Hamas to concede to Israel’s terms for ending the conflict.
Attention has shifted back to Gaza following the conclusion of Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran on Tuesday. The military campaign in Gaza—prompted by the Hamas-led attack on October 2023—has extended beyond 630 days, marking one of Israel’s most prolonged and lethal wars.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting domestic pressure to conclude the conflict by reaching a cease-fire agreement that would facilitate the release of hostages still held by Hamas. The hostages include up to 20 individuals believed to be alive, taken during the October 2023 attack, as well as the remains of approximately 30 others.
On Sunday, President Trump publicly urged for an agreement. He stated, “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!! DJT,” shortly after advocating for the cancellation of Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial, suggesting it could impede negotiations with Hamas.
Later that day, Netanyahu addressed a group of Shin Bet workers, stating that the campaign in Iran had “opened up many opportunities, first among them to rescue the hostages.” He reiterated that Israel must “resolve the Gaza issue and defeat Hamas,” expressing confidence in achieving both objectives.
In an unusual development, a panel of three Israeli judges agreed to postpone Netanyahu’s scheduled testimony by one week. This decision followed a closed-door court hearing attended by Netanyahu and two security chiefs, during which he advocated for a delay in his court appearances.
The court has been conducting cross-examinations of Netanyahu twice weekly this month. He has sought postponements based on national security concerns, though he has not disclosed specific details publicly.
Judicial authorities had recently rejected his requests for a two-week delay, citing insufficient justification. However, the judges indicated they would consider his request for an additional week based on evolving circumstances.
Trump had suggested on Friday that a potential agreement between Israel and Hamas could be reached within a week, although he provided no specifics on any developments that might support this claim. Analysts noted the lack of clear progress in cease-fire negotiations, according to officials familiar with the situation.
Israel and Hamas do not engage in direct negotiations, and there have been no Israeli delegations dispatched to mediating countries such as Qatar and Egypt, indicating that the two sides remain significantly apart on the conditions for a potential two-phased deal. However, it is possible that higher-level discussions are occurring privately.
It is currently unknown how many individuals will be impacted by the evacuation orders, given that many areas in northern Gaza had been largely vacated during previous evacuation directives. However, numerous residents returned home during a two-month cease-fire, which ended when fighting resumed in mid-March.
Efforts to establish a renewed cease-fire have been stalled since that time. Israel claims to have accepted various versions of a proposal from Steve Witkoff, the White House special envoy, which involves a roughly two-month cease-fire and the release of approximately half of the living hostages, as well as the remains of others. Discussions for a permanent cease-fire would occur during this period, though key disputes appear unresolved.
Hamas has insisted it will only release all hostages in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an internationally guaranteed cessation of hostilities. Conversely, Israel maintains that the conflict can only conclude with Hamas's surrender and disarmament, demanding the exile of the group’s leaders, a precondition that Hamas has dismissed.
The Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023 resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, according to Israeli sources. In retaliation, Israel’s counter-offensive has led to more than 56,000 fatalities in Gaza, according to the Gaza health ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its reports, but asserts that over half of the deceased are women and children.