Israel Announces 4-Hour Window For Gaza Civilians To Evacuate South.
By Caroline Ameh
The Israel’s military has declared a four-hour window for civilians in northern Gaza to safely move to the southern region of the coastal strip. This announcement comes as part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of residents in the midst of heightened tensions in the region.
A spokesperson for the Israeli army made the announcement on Monday through a post on platform X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by a map indicating the designated route. They emphasized the urgency of the situation and urged people to make their way to the southern region as quickly as possible for their own protection.
Approximately a week ago, the Israeli military escalated its ground operations against Hamas, the ruling authority in the Gaza Strip. On Sunday night, it was revealed that the territory has been divided into “northern Gaza” and “southern Gaza,” each with distinct security considerations.
The Israeli army has consistently encouraged residents in northern Gaza to relocate to the southern areas, and an estimated 700,000 people have already heeded this call.
The United Nations has reported that there are approximately 1.4 million internally displaced people in Gaza and has expressed concerns about dire humanitarian conditions in the region.
While the Israeli military is primarily engaged in clashes with Hamas forces in the north, there have also been Israeli airstrikes in the southern region. It is essential to note that although the south is not designated as a “safe zone,” it is comparatively safer than other areas within Gaza, as stated by an army spokesperson last week.
The current conflict stems from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launching a terrorist attack from Gaza against Israel on October 7, resulting in casualties and hostage situations. In response, Israel initiated a retaliatory bombing campaign aimed at neutralizing Hamas, which, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, has led to the loss of at least 9,770 Palestinian lives in Gaza.
