On Wednesday, Israel dropped leaflets instructing residents of Gaza City to move south, warning that the area would remain a dangerous combat zone as the army targets Hamas. International organisations have cautioned that the escape routes are “chaotic” and dangerous.
The leaflets, addressed to “everyone in Gaza City,” provided routes to designated safe areas further south and emphasised the city’s continued danger. Israel first issued a formal evacuation order for part of Gaza City on June 27, followed by two more in subsequent days. The army assured residents they could use two safe roads “quickly and without inspection from Gaza City to shelters in Deir Al-Balah and Al-Zawiya.”
On Tuesday, the United Nations expressed concern over Israel’s evacuation orders, noting that Palestinians are being directed to zones where there is ongoing fighting. The October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel resulted in 1,195 deaths, mostly civilians, and the capture of 251 hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza, including 42 the military says are dead.
Israel’s military offensive has killed at least 38,243 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry as of Tuesday.
