IDF warns northern Gaza residents to flee south ahead of imminent ground invasion

The Israel Defense Forces sent a warning to residents of Gaza City and other communities in the northern Gaza Strip to flee south within 24 hours as a ground campaign appears imminent. 

“We call on all residents to evacuate their homes, move south for their defense and settle in an area south of the Gaza River. This evacuation is for your personal safety. It will be possible to return to Gaza City only after a confirmation notice,” the IDF warning read. 

IDF spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari explained the IDF is trying to minimize civilian casualties. 

“We are fighting a terror group, not the Gazan population. We want civilians not to be harmed, but we cannot live with the rule of Hamas-ISIS near our border,” Hagari told reporters. 

Hagari said the order to flee was necessary to enable IDF the freedom of operation in its fight against the Hamas terror organization. 

“Hamas carried out one of the most horrific acts the world has seen, we are carrying out an effort to evacuate residents to deepen the damage, to collapse this organization,” Hagari said. 

The IDF spokesman said that Hamas fighters are hiding in civilian buildings. 

“Hamas terrorists are hiding in Gaza City in tunnels under houses in Gaza City, and inside multiple buildings with innocent civilians.” 

Hagari reiterated this in his statement to Gaza residents. 

“People of Gaza, move south for your personal safety and the safety of your families, distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who use you as human shields," the IDF spokesperson announced. 

Meanwhile, Hamas’ Interior Ministry told Gaza residents not to listen to Israel. 

“Israel is trying to convey false propaganda in order to sow confusion among Gaza residents. Do not cooperate with these attempts that constitute psychological warfare,” the Hamas Ministry stated. 

The United Nations protested that the 24-hour window that Israel has given the residents was insufficient and would lead to “devastating humanitarian consequences.” 

The UN estimates that some 340,000 Gazans have been displaced since Israel began targeting Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip. 

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan slammed the UN for only issuing a warning about harm to Gazans. 

“The UN response to Israel's early warning to the residents of Gaza is a disgrace!” Erdan said. 

“For many years, the UN has "closed its eyes" to Hamas' armament and its use of Gaza's civilian population and infrastructure as a hiding place for its weapons and murder,” Erdan continued. 

“And now, instead of standing by Israel, whose citizens were slaughtered by Hamas terrorists and which tries to minimize harm to non-involved civilians, it preaches to Israel. The UN would do well to focus now on returning the hostages, condemning Hamas and supporting Israel's right to defend itself,” Erdan said.