According to Israeli media reports, the Israeli army called on residents of the southern Gaza Strip to flee their homes for the first time since the start of the Gaza war. Military broadcaster and news website Ynet reported yesterday that leaflets in Arabic were dropped in the eastern part of the city of Khan Yunis.
Residents must stay safe; the army does not want civilians to suffer harm, he says. An operation against Islamic Hamas was also expected.
People should go to the known safe zone, Ynet continued. This area is further west next to the sea. According to local media, residents of the affected neighborhoods of Khan Yunis reacted to the announcement with panic.
According to the UN, almost 1.6 million of the approximately 2.2 million inhabitants of the coastal area are fleeing due to fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas that has lasted almost six weeks.