Israel Issues A Dire Warning To Residents Of Gaza: Leave Or Be Labeled “Terrorists”

Israel’s military issued fresh warnings to Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas War to leave northern Gaza for southern Gaza or risk being labeled supporters of a “terrorist organization.” Leaflets with the name and logo of the Israel Defense Forces were used to communicate the message. According to Reuters, it was also distributed via mobile phone audio messages throughout the Gaza Strip.

“Urgent warning to Gazan citizens. Your life is in danger since you are in Wadi Gaza to the north. Anyone who refuses to travel from north Gaza to the area south of Wadi Gaza risked being recognized as a collaborator with a terrorist group, the leaflet warned. Israel bombarded Gaza with airstrikes at the same time as it gathered troops and armor on its border with Gaza in preparation for an anticipated land operation.

What did the Israeli military say?

“No intention to consider those who have not evacuated… as a member of the terrorist group,” the Israeli military declared.

The military said in a statement that it did not target people and that “in order to minimize civilian harm, the IDF sent a request to the residents of the northern area of the Gaza Strip to evacuate southward of Wadi Gaza.”

Israel already forewarned the Palestinians of what?

Israel has previously asked Palestinians to relocate south, but Palestinians claimed they had not previously been informed that doing so would make them “terrorist” sympathizers. Traveling south is still very dangerous because of airstrikes and because other places south of the strip have also been affected. According to Reuters, many families that fled southern Gaza from Gaza said they had lost loved ones as a result of Israeli bombs there. Israeli airstrikes on the enclave throughout the course of the night claimed the lives of nearly 50 Palestinians.