- UN says Gaza aid operation paused due to evacuation orders
- Israel orders evacuation around Deir al-Balah, where the UN has its main operations centre
- UN stresses it is looking for a new safe location to resume its work
- Since the conflict began, nearly 88.5% of Gaza has been subject to evacuation orders
UN says Gaza aid operation paused due to evacuation orders
The United Nations has temporarily suspended its aid operations in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli military evacuation orders in the central area of the territory. A senior UN official reported that humanitarian staff could not work on Monday because of safety concerns stemming from evacuation orders around Deir al-Balah, where the UN has its main operations centre.
The evacuation forced UN staff to relocate quickly, leaving behind essential equipment. Despite the disruption, the UN emphasised it would not be leaving Gaza and is looking for a safe location to resume its operations.
The Israeli military stated that the evacuation orders aim to protect civilians during operations against Hamas and other armed groups. On Monday, Israeli forces continued efforts to “dismantle terrorist infrastructure” and “eliminate terrorists” near Deir al-Balah.
Since the conflict began, nearly 88.5% of Gaza has been subject to evacuation orders, displacing around 1.8 million people into a 41-square-kilometre humanitarian zone with limited infrastructure and basic services. The UN remains the primary provider of humanitarian aid in the area.