The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it has ordered the evacuation of Gaza City, according to an AP report. Leaflets dropped by aircraft instructed “everyone in Gaza City” to leave, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone,” the BBC reported. Civilians have been directed to use two designated safe routes leading to shelters in Deir al-Balah and al-Zawaida.
Israel claims it is targeting Hamas fighters regrouping in areas previously hit during the early stages of the conflict. On Wednesday, Israeli airstrikes killed 20 Palestinians in central Gaza, including six children and three women. Another strike hit a home in Deir al-Balah, an area within the “humanitarian safe zone” where Israel has advised Palestinians to seek refuge, according to an AP report.
The conflict in Gaza was sparked by a Hamas attack on October 7, in which militants entered southern Israel and killed approximately 1,200 people.
Additionally, Israeli tanks and artillery struck Syrian army targets on Wednesday, responding to violations of the 1974 demilitarization deal in the Golan Heights, Reuters reported, citing Israeli military sources. “The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) holds the Syrian military responsible for all activities within its territory and will not allow any attempts to violate Israeli sovereignty,” the military stated.
On Tuesday, an Israeli couple was killed by a Hezbollah rocket fired at the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, an attack the Lebanese armed group claimed was in retaliation for Israel killing one of its members in Syrian territory.
France condemned Israel’s recent airstrikes on schools sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza, calling such tactics “unacceptable” and urging a full investigation, according to the French foreign ministry.
