Proliferating evacuation orders sow chaos in Gaza but few safe havens

They severely complicate relief distribution by UN agencies in the blockaded territory

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The Israeli military has issued so many evacuation orders in 10 months of war that many Gaza civilians no longer heed them, despairing of finding space or safety in the shrinking “humanitarian" zones.

Over the first three weeks of August, the Israeli army sent out 11 evacuation orders via fliers dropped from planes, text messages or social media.

They called on 250,000 Gazans, almost all of whom had been displaced at least once already, to leave their place of shelter.

"The Israeli army will operate with force against terrorist organisations in this area. For your safety, we urge you to evacuate immediately," read one such order sent out on Aug 22 in the southern province of Khan Younis.

"Every time we arrive somewhere, we get a new evacuation order two days later," said Mr Haitham Abdelaal.

"This is no way to live," he added.

Ms Amneh Abu Daqqa, 45, said she saw no point in moving again, so few were the options for safe haven. "To go where?" asked the displaced mother of five.