GENEVA

The UN human rights office on Friday voiced alarm over the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, warning that Israeli evacuation orders since mid-March have forced civilians into increasingly unsafe and overcrowded areas.

"We are deeply concerned about the shrinking space for civilians in Gaza who are being forcibly displaced by the Israeli army from large swaths of territory," spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said in a statement.

According to the office, the Israeli military has issued 10 evacuation orders since March 18, covering wide parts of Gaza’s territory, including more than half of northern Gaza. The movement of civilians, however, has not translated into increased safety.

"Those who are displaced are not guaranteed safety," Al-Kheetan said. "The Israeli army ordered the population from western Rafah to go to Al Mawasi, which has been reportedly bombarded."

"Israel is not taking any measures to provide accommodation for the evacuated population, nor ensure that these evacuations are conducted in satisfactory conditions of hygiene, health, safety and nutrition," he said.

The spokesperson also underscored the scale of civilian casualties, citing 855 deaths and 1,869 injuries reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry since March 18.

"Civilians who have endured multiple displacement … are again faced with the stark choice of being displaced once more or staying and risking their lives and those of their loved ones," he added.

Al-Kheetan also called on all parties to reach a permanent ceasefire "as soon as possible."

"Israel must immediately end its blockade of humanitarian assistance and refrain from any acts amounting to forcible transfer of Gaza’s population," he said. "Forcible transfer is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and constitutes a crime under international law," the spokesperson warned.

The Israeli army launched a surprise aerial campaign on the Gaza Strip on March 18, shattering the January ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

More than 50,200 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 113,900 injured in a brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 2023.