IOF Orders Forced Evacuation in Gaza’s Beit Hanoun and Sheikh Zayed, Citing “Sniper Operations” for First Time
GAZA CITY, May 5, 2025 — The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have issued urgent evacuation orders for residents of Beit Hanoun and the Sheikh Zayed neighborhood in the northeastern part of Gaza City. In a significant departure from previous justifications, the IOF is citing "sniper operations" rather than the usual pretext of "rocket fire" to enforce the mass displacement of civilians.
This marks the first time sniper-related activity has been publicly used as a rationale for large-scale evacuation orders in Gaza. The announcement triggered immediate panic among residents, many of whom are experiencing displacement for the second or even third time since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023. Eyewitnesses report chaotic scenes as families pack belongings and flee toward southern areas of the besieged Strip, often with no guarantee of shelter or safety.
Humanitarian groups on the ground warn that tens of thousands of Palestinians are now on the move once again. “This is a terrifying new chapter in the ongoing siege of Gaza,” said a field coordinator for the Palestinian Red Crescent. “The use of vague military terminology like ‘sniper operations’ only deepens the fear and uncertainty faced by civilians already pushed to the brink.”
Since the conflict escalated, the Sheikh Zayed housing complex had served as a refuge for many displaced families. Now, with both Beit Hanoun and Sheikh Zayed under immediate evacuation orders, the humanitarian crisis is expected to worsen significantly. Medical teams, already strained by months of bombardment and shortages, fear an uptick in civilian casualties due to displacement-related trauma and lack of access to care.
The United Nations and international human rights groups have repeatedly condemned what they call the IOF’s disproportionate use of force and systematic displacement strategy. “This latest wave of forced evacuations, particularly with a novel pretext, raises serious legal and ethical questions under international humanitarian law,” stated a spokesperson for Human Rights Watch.
As the exodus continues, pressure mounts on the international community to intervene meaningfully. With over 1.7 million Gazans already internally displaced, the new wave of evacuations threatens to push Gaza’s humanitarian crisis beyond a tipping point.
