The Israeli military has issued new evacuation orders in the heavily overcrowded area of Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the fighting have sought shelter, Reuters reports.

The orders, which the military said were needed to clear civilians from what had become “a dangerous combat zone”, were soon followed by tank fire with at least one person killed and several wounded by machine gun fire, medics and residents said.

The misery of people in Deir Al-Balah, who were on the move yet again as they sought to escape fighting, was compounded by the so far fruitless wait for a ceasefire agreement.

“Unfortunately, we may die before we see an end to this war. All ceasefire talk is a lie,” Aburakan, 55, who has had to change refuge five times since October due to Israeli attacks, told Reuters via a chat app.