Israeli Military Orders Evacuation in Gaza City Amid Continued Offensive
The Israeli military has ordered all Palestinians to leave Gaza City and head south as it presses ahead with a fresh offensive across the north, south, and central areas of the Gaza Strip, resulting in dozens of casualties over the past 48 hours. Leaflets were dropped from the air urging residents to take safe routes south towards Deir elBalah and azZawayda. Gazas Interior Ministry has advised residents to refrain from following Israeli evacuation orders, calling them part of psychological warfare. The United Nations has expressed concern that the evacuations will exacerbate the suffering of Palestinian families already displaced multiple times. The lack of civil defense teams and humanitarian aid organizations in Gaza City has left residents feeling trapped amidst the intensified Israeli attacks. The latest evacuation order follows an Israeli air attack on alAwdah School, resulting in numerous casualties. The attack has sparked condemnation from world leaders, with calls for investigations into the incident. The UNRWA reported that two-thirds of the schools serving as shelters for displaced Palestinians have been hit by Israeli strikes. Israels military chief has stated that the ongoing operation in Gaza aims to pressure Hamas fighters regrouping in various parts of the territory. Ceasefire talks involving US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators are ongoing, amidst concerns from Hamas that the recent Israeli onslaught could jeopardize negotiations. The leader of Hamas has warned that Israel's escalating assault may hinder progress towards a ceasefire deal. Despite this, Hamas seeks international guarantees for a permanent ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains that the campaign will continue until Hamas is eliminated.
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