The Israeli army on Wednesday dropped thousands of leaflets and letters on Gaza City urging all residents to leave amid an intensified military offensive on the Palestinian territory’s main city, reported international media.
The leaflets, addressed to “everyone in Gaza City”, set out routes out of the city to designated safe areas further south and warned the urban area would “remain a dangerous combat zone” as the army hits Hamas targets.
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The warning follows three partial evacuation orders and came as Israeli troops, backed by tanks and aircraft, have fought Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants in the heaviest combat operations the city has seen in months.
Israel issued a first formal evacuation order for part of the city on June 27, and two more in following days.
In the leaflet drop, the army said residents would be able to take two safe roads “quickly and without inspection from Gaza City to shelters in Deir Al-Balah and Al-Zawiya”.
Tens of thousands more residents have already fled Gaza City since Israeli army launched the latest offensive in the city’s eastern Shujaiya district and ground battles have since raged.
The two latest orders covered central and western districts where tanks and troops have move in this week.
Strikes have also hit Deir Al-Balah, an area where Palestinians have been urged to move to for safety.
The United Nations on Tuesday expressed alarming situation for Gaza residents after Israel’s evacuation order.
