Residents of Gaza City are refusing to leave, despite Israel's announcement earlier in the day of a new "humanitarian zone" in southern Gaza's Khan Younis ahead of its planned operation to capture Gaza City.

"They want us to move to a place that is already overcrowded," Samer Abu Samra, a 38-year-old father of four, told Xinhua. "We cannot afford transportation or tents. People are exhausted and coming from hunger."

"I lived displacement in the south before, and it was the worst experience of my life," said Nasser al-Attar, a teacher in Gaza City. "The south is not safe either, so staying here is not heroism. It is simply because there is no alternative."

"We have nothing left to lose but our lives," said Umm Mohammed Jaber. "But displacement also means losing dignity, so we will remain here."

According to estimates by local activists, about 80 percent of Gaza City residents have chosen not to leave.

Earlier on Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the designated "humanitarian zone," in a statement, "in light of the expansion of the ground operation in Gaza City and the takeover of Hamas strongholds as part of Operation Gideon's Chariots II."

It said the "humanitarian zone," which contains key humanitarian infrastructure, will ensure the continued delivery of food, tents, medicines and medical equipment.

Over the past weeks, the Israeli military has expanded its operations in Gaza City and other areas of the coastal enclave, saying the goal is to eliminate Hamas.

However, the military operations in Gaza have become more and more unpopular among some segments of Israeli society, and opinion polls show that most Israelis want the Israeli government to negotiate a permanent ceasefire with Hamas that secures the release of the hostages.

"Sent to war for nothing"

On Saturday night, thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv, issuing direct appeals to U.S. President Donald Trump to force an end to the Gaza conflict and secure the release of the hostages.

"We think that Trump is the only man in the world who has authority over Bibi, that can force Bibi to do this," said Tel Aviv resident Boaz, 40, referring to the Israeli prime minister.

Orna Neutra, the mother of an Israeli soldier who was killed on October 7, 2023, and whose body is being held in Gaza by militants, accused the government of abandoning its citizens.

"We truly hope that the United States will push both sides to finally reach a comprehensive deal that will bring them home," she told the rally.

There is growing despair among many Israelis toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The war has no purpose at all, except for violence and death," said Boaz from Tel Aviv.

Adam, 48, said it had become obvious that soldiers were being "sent to war for nothing."

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military since October 2023. Hamas has offered to release some hostages for a temporary ceasefire, similar to terms that were discussed in July before negotiations mediated by the U.S. and Arab states collapsed.

The militant group on Saturday once again said that it would release all hostages if Israel agreed to end the conflict and withdraw its forces from Gaza.

Netanyahu is pushing for an all-or-nothing deal that would see all of the hostages released at once and Hamas surrendering. The prime minister has said Gaza City is a Hamas stronghold and capturing it is necessary to defeat the Palestinian militant group, whose October 2023 attack on Israel led to the conflict.

Hamas has acknowledged it would no longer govern Gaza once the conflict ends but has refused to discuss laying down its weapons.

On Saturday, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, in a phone call with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, urged stepping up regional and international efforts to end the brutal Gaza crisis, ensuring the sustainable and unhindered flow of humanitarian aid, and securing the release of prisoners and detainees.

(With input from agencies)