Israeli army intensifies offensive on Gaza, Drops leaflets requesting evacuation
The leaflets indicated that residents could use two roads "quickly and without inspection from Gaza City to shelters in Deir Al-Balah and Al-Zawiya".
On Wednesday, the Israeli army intensifies its offensive on the Palestinian territory’s main city by dropping thousands of leaflets on Gaza City urging all residents to evacuate. According to an AFP journalist, these leaflets were addressed to “everyone in Gaza City” and outlined specific routes to designated safe areas further south, warning that the urban area would “remain a dangerous combat zone” as military operations targeted Hamas positions.
The leaflets indicated that residents could use two roads “quickly and without inspection from Gaza City to shelters in Deir Al-Balah and Al-Zawiya.” This action follows Israel’s first formal evacuation order for part of the city issued on June 27, with two additional orders in the following days.
Evacuation and Strikes Continue
After the October 7 Hamas attacks, Israel said in January that it had “dismantled” the group’s “military structure” in the northern city. Since the offensive began, tens of thousands of residents have fled Gaza City, particularly from the eastern Shujaiya district, where ground battles have been going on. The latest evacuation orders targeted central and western districts, where Israeli tanks and troops have recently moved in.
The Israeli army also reported strikes on operatives inside the vacated headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, in Gaza City. Additionally, areas in Deir Al-Balah, to which Palestinians have been urged to move, have also been struck.
The United Nations has expressed concern over Israel’s evacuation orders, highlighting that the designated safe zones are areas where fighting is also occurring.
The current situation follows the deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in 1,195 deaths, mostly civilians, as reported by an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. The operatives seized 251 hostages, with 116 still remaining in Gaza, including 42 whom the military reports as dead.
In response, Israel’s military offensive has resulted in casualties in Gaza. According to figures released on Tuesday by the health ministry of the Hamas run territory, at least 38,243 people have been killed,in which mostly were civilians.
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