Hamas on Sunday rejected Israel’s plan to relocate residents from Gaza City, saying it constitutes a “new wave of genocide and displacement” for hundreds of thousands of residents in the area. The Israeli military had earlier said it was preparing to provide tents and other equipment ahead of its plan to relocate residents from combat zones to the south of the enclave “to ensure their safety”, as Israel intends to launch a new offensive to seize control of Gaza City. Hamas said the planned deployment of tents and other shelter equipment by Israel into southern Gaza was a “blatant deception” to cover up a “brutal crime that the occupation forces prepare to execute”. The Palestinian militant group was referring to Israeli plans to expand military operations into Gaza City and surrounding refugee camps, which have triggered both international condemnation and growing domestic criticism. Israel’s Gaza Relocation Plan Earlier, a Reuters report said Israel and South Sudan are reportedly in early talks regarding the possible relocation of Palestinians from war‑ravaged Gaza. According to three anonymous sources, no agreement has been reached yet, but discussions are underway. The sources, who spoke anonymously, said the plan involves moving people from Gaza, which has been devastated by nearly two years of conflict with Israel, to South Sudan, a country long plagued by political and ethnic violence. The idea of relocating Gaza’s population has been strongly rejected by Palestinian leaders and many world figures. Palestinians view such a move as another “Nakba” (catastrophe), similar to the mass displacement during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The war began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. About 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to be still alive. Israel’s subsequent military offensive has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, and brought millions of people to the brink of hunger. Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered on Sunday evening in Tel Aviv to call for an end to the war in Gaza and the release of hostages. Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli fire on Sunday killed over sixty Palestinians, including at least 37 waiting to collect food aid near two sites. (with inputs from agencies)