Hamas Tells Gaza Residents To Defy Evacuation Order

Hamas has reportedly told residents of Gaza to defy the orders of Israel to evacuate south ahead of an anticipated ground offensive on the Palestinian exclave, portraying it as “false propaganda” and “psychological warfare.”

In an announcement sent in the early hours of Friday morning, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) told civilians in Gaza City to leave their homes and head south of the Gaza River, describing it as “for your own safety and the safety of your families.”

“You will be able to return to Gaza City only when another announcement permitting it is made,” the statement said. “Hamas terrorists are hiding in Gaza City inside tunnels underneath houses and inside buildings populated with innocent Gazan civilians.”

However, according to Israeli news outlet N12, shortly after the proclamation was made, the Hamas-run Interior Ministry of Gaza accused Israel of “trying to spread false propaganda to sow confusion among the residents of Gaza.”

“Do not cooperate with these attempts which constitute psychological warfare,” it said. The IDF confirmed a short while ago that “Hamas is telling Gaza residents to ignore our safety instructions.”

The order follows notification from Israel to the U.N. to evacuate 1.1 million people living in northern Gaza within 24 hours, the Associated Press reported—around half the population of the entire strip.

U.N. aid workers have been told to leave northern Gaza for Rafah, a city further south, while Nebal Farsakh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza City, told AP that there were patients in hospitals who could not be moved.

Since Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza, including the cutting off of water, power and food supply, there has been a worsening humanitarian crisis, amid claims aid was being stopped from entering.

After militants entered Israel through multiple means and carried out surprise attacks on areas bordering Gaza, the Israeli Air Force has conducted intensive air strikes on targets in the exclave. While it has forewarned civilians in those areas, so far 1,537 have died in Gaza and 6,612 have been people injured, AP reported, citing Gaza Health Ministry figures.