Israel orders all of Gaza City to evacuate ahead of attack

The Israeli military on Tuesday ordered all residents of Gaza City and its neighbourhoods to “evacuate immediately”, saying it would operate with “great force” to eliminate Palestinian militant group Hamas.

“For your safety, evacuate immediately via the Al-Rashid axis towards the humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi,” the Israeli Defence Force’s spokesperson posted on X in Arabic. “Remaining in the area is extremely dangerous.”

The Israeli military also dropped leaflets over residents of Gaza City living among the rubble, carrying a similar warning, Al Jazeera reported.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the military action so far was “only the beginning of the main, intensive operation”, BBC reported.

He said: “I say to the residents of Gaza, take this opportunity and listen to me carefully: you have been warned – get out of there!”

The military has reportedly instructed Gaza City residents to move to a so-called “humanitarian zone” in Al-Mawasi, near Khan Younis on the southern coast.

However, the area is already overcrowded, with thousands of Palestinians sheltering in tents, Reuters reported.

Israel has also regularly bombed the south, including Al-Mawasi, according to the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.

The area is one of the smallest humanitarian zones designated by the Israeli military and covers only about 12% of Gaza’s landmass, BBC reported.

On August 8, Tel Aviv announced plans to take military control of Gaza City, marking a major escalation...

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