Israeli Army issued an advance warning to parts of cities in Gaza which are humanitarian safe zones, as these areas were used by Hamas as a base for attacks towards Israel.
The Israeli army has ordered a fresh evacuation in certain areas of southern and central Gaza on Friday. The reason cited was that these areas were used by Hamas as a base for firing motors and rockets towards Israel. These areas were previously designated as humanitarian safe zones.
The Israeli Army said that warning flyers and text messages had been circulated to the northern part of Khan Younis city and eastern parts of Deir Al-Balah. Tens and thousands of people from other parts of Gaza have sought refuge in these cities amidst the war.
“The advance warning to civilians is being issued in order to mitigate harm to the civilian population and to enable civilians to move away from the combat zone,” the military said in a statement.
The military had also previously attacked an area in Khan Younis city. Rockets were fired towards the Kissufim community on Thursday, on finding weapons such as shoulder-fired missiles and explosives.
The latest warnings for evacuation were released as negotiators meet in Doha for peace talks. This is the second day of talks aimed at reaching a deal to halt the fighting in Gaza and bring Israeli and foreign hostages home.
Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million population has been displaced multiple times since the start of the Israeli campaign in Gaza, launched following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Regular casualties have been reported from Israeli strikes in Gaza, even in areas designated as humanitarian safe zones.
Israel accuses Hamas and other militant groups of deliberately basing fighters in civilian areas, a charge Hamas denies. The fighting has in any case become more scattered and less organised as Hamas has shifted towards guerrilla warfare style tactics by small groups of fighters.
(With inputs from Reuters)
