Palestinian reports spoke of a forced evacuation. According to this information, the majority of those affected sought shelter in emergency shelters in the region or in Gaza City. Most, however, refused to go to the south of the Hamas targets in Gaza after shells fired from the strip”>Gaza Strip, it was said.
An Israeli army spokesman reported that hundreds of civilians had left the area via safe routes since early morning. It was also said that several suspected members of terrorist organizations had been arrested. The Israeli news portal Ynet spoke of a “mass exodus” from Jabalia, where there has been fierce fighting for weeks. The information could not be independently verified.
New offensive against Hamas
The Israeli army began a new offensive against the Islamist Hamas in the north of the Gaza Strip two weeks ago. Aid organizations warn of unbearable conditions for the civilian population there. Because of this, the United Nations Palestinian Relief Agency (UNRWA) made serious allegations against Israel. “Almost nothing is entering the Gaza Strip at the moment,” UNRWA deputy director in the coastal strip, Sam Rose, told CNN.
Last week, the USA gave Israel a deadline of 30 days to improve supplies for the people in the coastal strip. Otherwise, US arms sales to Israel could be at risk.
At least two people were killed in a rocket attack on a car in Damascus, Syrian television reported, citing the military. Accordingly, three people were injured. The military assumes that it is an Israeli attack. There was initially no statement from the Israeli military.
