The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has dropped flyers in Gaza, warning residents in the Sabrah neighbourhood to evacuate to the south or face the possibility of being considered “a partner” of the terrorist organisation. This comes as the UN agencies have said that the Israeli order to evacuate the entire population of northern Gaza, which is approximately 1.1 million people, will cause a humanitarian crisis.
“Urgent warning! To the residents of the Gaza Strip. Your presence north of Wadi Gaza puts your life in danger. Everyone who chooses not to evacuate from the north of the strip to the south of Wadi Gaza might be considered as a partner for the terrorist organisation,” the IDF flyer read in Arabic, according to a CNN translation. The IDF has responded by saying that the translation provided by the American news network spreading online was imprecise.
Israeli airstrikes continued to hit southern Gaza, an area swollen by civilians who fled there from the north on Israeli instructions. Israel’s military spokesperson said the country planned to step up its attacks starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of its war on Hamas.
Meanwhile, the IDF continues to urge residents in northern Gaza to evacuate “for their own safety.” Contrary to the flyer, the military said there was “no intention to consider those who have not evacuated from the affected area of fighting as a member of the terrorist group.” The Israeli military added it “treats civilians as such, and does not target them.”
The war, which two weeks ago is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that the death toll has reached 4,385, while 13,561 people have been wounded. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly in the initial attack on October 7 when Hamas militants stormed into Israel. As many as 203 people were believed captured by Hamas during the incursion and taken into Gaza.
Aid deliveries have begun moving into the besieged Gaza Strip, two weeks after the Hamas rampaged through southern Israel and Israel responded with airstrikes. In the meantime, Hamas has freed two American hostages who had been held in Gaza since the start of the war.
(With agency inputs)