‘Leave Now’: Israel Orders Full Evacuation Of Gaza City Ahead Of Military Takeover

Israeli forces on Tuesday ordered a complete evacuation of Gaza City ahead of its planned military takeover.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the order online early Tuesday, warning residents that remaining in Gaza City, home to nearly half of the Gaza Strip’s population, would be “extremely dangerous.” Leaflets carrying the message were also dropped from the air, directing residents to travel westward to the coast before going south.

“To all residents of Gaza City and all its neighborhoods, from the Old City and Tuffah in the east to the sea in the west. The IDF is determined to defeat Hamas and will operate in the Gaza City area with great force, just as it did throughout the Strip,” Avichay Adraee, the military’s Arabic spokesperson, said on Tuesday.

“For your safety, evacuate immediately via the Rashid axis toward the humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi,” he added.

The evacuation order followed an Israeli air strike on Friday that hit a Gaza City high-rise the military claimed Hamas used for surveillance. Israel has expanded its operations in recent weeks and now holds operational control over about 40% of the city, according to Reuters