
The Israeli military has directed all residents of Gaza City to move southwards to the central Gaza Strip as operations intensify in the north. Aircraft on Wednesday (July 10) dropped leaflets instructing "everyone in Gaza City" to leave the area and described the populated area in the blockaded Palestinian enclave as a "dangerous combat zone."
Israel asked Gaza City residents to leave via designated safe routes leading to shelters in Deir al-Balah and al-Zawaida.
The United Nations has expressed deep concern over Israel's latest evacuation orders. They mark the second time since the conflict began that a full evacuation of Gaza City has been called.
Over the past two weeks, Israeli forces have re-entered several districts in Gaza City where the military believes Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) fighters had regrouped since the start of the year.
Hamas has stated that Israel’s renewed military activity jeopardises ongoing negotiations for a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal, which resumed in Qatar on Wednesday (July 10).
These talks include the intelligence chiefs of Egypt, the US, and Israel, as well as Qatar’s prime minister.
There are still an estimated 250,000 people living in Gaza City. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported receiving calls from residents unable to leave their homes due to intense bombing.
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"The information coming from Gaza City shows residents are living through tragic conditions. [Israeli] occupation forces continue to hit residential districts, displacing people from their homes and refuge shelters," the Red Crescent stated.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced earlier on Wednesday that its troops had conducted a "counterterrorism operation" overnight against Hamas and PIJ fighters operating from a UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) headquarters in Gaza City. The IDF stated that a “defined corridor” had been opened to facilitate civilian evacuation before troops entered the structure and "eliminated terrorists in close-quarters combat."
(With inputs from agencies)