Gazans say a “piece of paper” cannot erase the lives of a million people. After Israel dropped leaflets demanding mass evacuation, residents responded by gathering en masse, declaring they will not abandon their homes and cities.
According to field reports, last week the Israeli army scattered leaflets across Gaza demanding the evacuation of more than one million people. Residents condemned the move as “forced displacement” and a blatant violation of human rights. They pointed out that whether they stay or flee south, the risk of death remains, since heavily populated southern areas have also been reduced to rubble in repeated strikes.
In recent days, several residential towers and entire neighborhoods in Gaza have been destroyed, part of what protesters denounced as Israel’s attempt to depopulate Gaza City and establish military control. Demonstrators raised placards reading: “This is our home — we will not leave” and “Our flag is raised high,” underscoring their determination to remain.
One Gazan woman wrote on social media: “With a piece of paper, Israel orders one million people to leave their cities. How has our blood become so worthless that it can be erased like meaningless numbers on the world’s scale?”
International observers and legal experts warn that any attempt at mass displacement of civilians constitutes a violation of humanitarian law. Protesters have called on the global community and international organizations to act immediately to protect civilians and secure humanitarian relief.
For the people of Gaza — who have faced repeated cycles of destruction and displacement — the message is clear: “We will never leave.” This defiant stance sends a direct signal to the world about their determination to remain in their homeland despite threats and devastation.
