Hamas: The plan to evacuate residents from Gaza City is "genocide"

Hamas said on Sunday (August 17) that Israel's plan to evacuate residents of Gaza City is a "new round of genocide and displacement" against hundreds of thousands of people in the region.

Reuters reported that Hamas also said that Israel's plan to deploy tents and other refuge equipment in southern Gaza was "blatant deception".

The Israeli military said they are ready to start providing tents and other equipment from Sunday to complete ahead of schedule the plan to relocate residents from the war zone to the southern part of the Gaza Strip to ensure their safety.

Hamas said in a statement that deploying tents under the guise of humanitarianism is blatant deception aimed at "covering up the brutal crimes that the occupying forces are preparing to commit".

Israel approved a plan earlier this month, allowing its military to launch a new offensive to seize control of Gaza City. This has aroused condemnation and concern from the international community.