In a densely populated area of central Gaza, where it has not launched a ground operation in its 21-month war against Hamas, the Israeli military has issued evacuation orders. Residents and displaced Palestinians taking refuge in the city of Deir al-Balah should leave right away and head toward al-Mawasi on the Mediterranean coast, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ordered on Sunday.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians and the relatives of Israeli hostages who think their loved ones are being held in the city are in a state of terror over the evacuation order, which may be a warning of an impending attack.
The Israeli military ordered residents of numerous neighborhoods in southwest Deir al-Balah to evacuate their houses and travel south on Sunday after dropping leaflets from the sky. According to the military, “the (Israeli) Defense Forces continues to operate with great force to destroy the enemy’s capabilities and terrorist infrastructure in the area,” but it hasn’t yet made its way into these areas throughout the conflict.
A large number of displaced persons are camped out in tents in the impacted neighborhoods of Deir al-Balah. According to Israeli sources who spoke to the Reuters news agency, the army has avoided these areas thus far because they believe Hamas may be harbouring captives there.
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