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Palestinian militant group Hamas has urged residents of Gaza City not to leave their homes shortly after Israel issued an order for the people in north Gaza to evacuate “southwards”.
“The occupation is attempting to spread and circulate false propaganda through various means, aiming to create confusion among citizens and undermine the stability of our internal front,” CNN quoted the Palestinian militant group as saying in a statement, referring to Israel.
It also claimed that employees of “international institutions” remained at their posts and were not evacuating.
Earlier on Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) advised all civilians to evacuate Gaza City and move south for “their safety and the safety of their families”.
The evacuation call comes amid growing expectations that Israel is set to launch a ground assault on Gaza, as it seeks to wipe out Hamas in the wake of last weekend's devastating attacks, which killed 1,300 Israelis. Dozens of people were kidnapped and taken to Gaza.
In an announcement to residents of Gaza, the IDF on its X (Twitter handle) handle said Hamas terrorists were hiding inside tunnels underneath houses and inside buildings populated with innocent Gazan civilians.
Israel told civilians to distance themselves from Hamas terrorists who are allegedly using them as human shields.
According to the IDF, the announcement was made because it planned to operate in Gaza City in the coming days and wanted to avoid harming civilians.
The statement said, "The IDF calls for the evacuation of all civilians of Gaza City from their homes southwards for their own safety and protection and move to the area south of the Wadi Gaza, as shown on the map.
"The Hamas terrorist organization waged a war against the State of Israel and Gaza City is an area where military operations take place. This evacuation is for your own safety.
"You will be able to return to Gaza City only when another announcement permitting it is made. Do not approach the area of the security fence with the State of Israel.
"Hamas terrorists are hiding in Gaza City inside tunnels underneath houses and inside buildings populated with innocent Gazan civilians.
"Civilians of Gaza City, evacuate south for your own safety and the safety of your families and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields.
"In the following days, the IDF will continue to operate significantly in Gaza City and make extensive efforts to avoid harming civilians," the statement added.
At least 1,200 people have died and 2,900 others have been injured in Israel after the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented incursion from air, land and sea on Saturday, Israeli authorities said.
Hamas fired several rockets toward Israel and an estimated 1,000 fighters crossed into the country from the neighbouring Gaza Strip. Israeli officials said at least 100 civilians and soldiers have been taken hostage.
The I DF has since declared "a state of alert for war" and launched retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza, a 140-square-mile territory where 2 million Palestinians have lived under a blockade imposed by neighbouring Israel and Egypt since Hamas seized power in 2007.
Palestinian authorities said at least 1,527 people have died and another 6,612 have been injured in Gaza since Saturday. Unlike Israel, the Gaza Strip has no air raid sirens or bomb shelters.