The Israeli military on Tuesday ordered all residents of Gaza City to evacuate ahead of an expanded assault, warning that those who remain face grave danger.

"The army will act with great force in the area," military spokesman Avichay Adraee wrote on X, urging nearly 1 million residents, many of whom have already been displaced multiple times, to move south to Al-Mawasi, designated by Israel as a "humanitarian zone," where thousands of Palestinians have already been sheltering in tents.

The announcement came a day after Hamas said it was ready to open negotiations following a new Gaza ceasefire proposal put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Israeli military airdropped leaflets with evacuation orders to residents standing amid the rubble of Gaza City, where it has bombed residential towers to the ground in the past few days.

The evacuation orders caused panic and confusion among residents in the strip's largest urban center, who say there is no safe place to go to escape bombardment and a humanitarian crisis. Some said they would have no choice but to leave for the south, but many said they would stay, and there were no immediate signs of a mass exodus.

"Despite the bombardment in the past week, I have resisted leaving, but now I will go to be with my daughter," Um Mohammad, a 55-year-old mother of six, said by text message.

The health authorities in Gaza announced that they would evacuate Gaza City's two main operational hospitals, Al Shifa and Al Ahli, adding that doctors would not leave patients unattended.

Most Gazans have already been displaced several times since the war started in October 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's subsequent military assault has killed over 64,000 Palestinians, Gaza's health ministry says. Nearly the entire population has been internally displaced, much of the territory lies in ruins, and a hunger crisis has grown far worse in recent months.

'Hurricane'

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Israeli forces had destroyed dozens of multi-storey buildings in recent days, accusing Hamas of installing surveillance cameras inside them to monitor Israeli troops. On Monday, Katz said the military would unleash a "mighty hurricane" that would destroy Gaza if Hamas did not free the last hostages it holds and surrender.

The full-scale operation is not expected to start in the coming week, and no new advances by tanks to deepen the ground offensive have been reported as of Tuesday. Israeli forces have been operating on Gaza City's outskirts since last month, and the military said it was in control of 40 percent of the city already.

The health ministry in Gaza appealed to the international community to protect Gaza City's hospitals, warning of "a humanitarian catastrophe that threatens the lives of thousands of patients and wounded individuals."

International criticism

Several European countries, angered by Israel's bombardment in Gaza, have said they will recognize Palestinian statehood this month when the United Nations General Assembly convenes in New York. Israel and its main ally, the United States, reject the recognition moves.

International critics say Israel's plan, which includes demilitarizing the whole strip as Israel takes security control, could worsen the humanitarian plight of the 2.2 million Palestinians who live there.

Israel has come under pressure from Arab and Western nations over its conduct in the war in Gaza. A global hunger monitor relied on by the United Nations has declared famine in areas including Gaza City.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has no choice but to complete the job and defeat Hamas, given that the militant group has refused to lay down its arms. Hamas says it will not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is established, and will not free all hostages without an agreement ending the war.

A flotilla seeking to break Israel's naval blockade and bring aid to Gaza on Tuesday said one of its main boats had been struck by a drone at a port in Tunisia, though all six passengers and crew were safe. The flotilla includes Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who in an earlier attempt to reach Gaza in June was captured at sea by Israel and deported.

(With input from agencies)