Over 1 million Palestinians reject forced displacement from Gaza, say government media office

More than a million Palestinians remain in Gaza City and the north, rejecting forced displacement to the south, where Israel has said there will be no return, the Government Media Office said on Friday.

“More than one million … remain steadfast in their land, homes and properties, categorically rejecting the scheme of forced displacement to the south,” it said in a statement on Telegram.

The office said Israel is trying to force over 1.7 million people into designated shelter zones covering less than twelve percent of the Strip. About 800,000 people have been crammed into the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis and Rafah, the office said, rejecting Israel's claims that there is a humanitarian safe zone.

The so-called humanitarian zone has been bombed more than 109 times, killing over 2,000 and leaving residents without hospitals, water, food, shelter or electricity after the “Mekorot” line was cut, the office said.