As Israeli military steps up its operations against terror group Hamas, it is urging residents to evacuate from northern parts of terrorist-controlled Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was sending text messages and using other means to warn Gaza residents to leave the areas in the north designated for the upcoming counter-terrorist operations.
The Gazans were asked to move south “for your own safety and the safety of your families and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields,” the IDF said in a statement on Friday morning.
While, the IDF was doing everything possible to minimizing the harm to the civilians ahead of its possibile ground offensive, Hamas is ordering Gazans to ignore the Israeli warnings and stay in their homes as its terrorists hide underneath the tunnels and inside residential buildings.
The Israeli news website Ynet reported Hamas’s attempt to mislead Gazans:
Meanwhile, Salama Marouf, head of the Hamas government media office, said the relocation warning was an attempt by Israel “to broadcast and pass on fake propaganda, aiming to sow confusion among citizens and harm our internal cohesion.” He added, “We urge our citizens not to engage in these attempts”.
The IDF also urged Gaza civilians not to “approach the area of the security fence with the State of Israel,” which terrorists breached during their coordinated terrorist attack on Saturday.
The IDF statement on Friday morning:
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.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military continued strikes on terrorist targets in Gaza for the seventh day, which many in Israel believe to be the run-up to a major ground offensive.
The Israeli air force struck hundreds of terrorist targets inside Gaza. The sites hit overnight “were Hamas tunnels, military compounds, residences of senior operatives and weapons storage warehouses,” the Ynet reported.
Israel has called up 360,000 reservists since last Saturday’s terror attacks, which has so far claimed 1,300 lives. Nearly 200 Israeli hostages, including women, elderly and children, were in Hamas captivity, latest Israeli news reports indicate.
The Times of Israel reported the overnight IDF strikes:
The Israel Defense Forces says it carried out airstrikes against some 750 targets belonging to Hamas and other terror groups in the Gaza Strip overnight.Among the targets were 12 multi-story towers, which the IDF says contain Hamas assets.The military says it also struck three Hamas operatives responsible for mortar fire on Israel in recent days.The trio were targeted at a military command center in Gaza City, according to the IDF.Other targets include tunnels, military compounds, residences of senior members used as military command centers, weapons storage warehouses, and communications rooms, the IDF says.
The Israeli government fears attacks on Jews and Israelis living abroad as Hamas calls on Muslims across the world to hold a “Day of Rage” on Friday the 13th. The call to display global Islamic ‘rage’ comes less than a week after Gaza-based terrorists mass-murdered innocent Israelis in barbaric manner.
On Friday, an Israeli diplomat was reportedly attacked in Beijing, though the motives were not yet clear. “An Israeli embassy staffer in Beijing has been hospitalized after an attack, Israel’s Foreign Ministry says,” The Times of Israel reported. “A motive for the attack, which did not occur at the embassy, is being probed, the ministry says.”
The Jerusalem Post reported:
The National Security Council and Foreign Ministry called on Thursday for Israelis around the world to stay vigilant as Hamas calls for an international “Day of Rage” on Friday.”Against the background of the Swords of Iron war, the Hamas leadership issued a call to all their supporters in the world to hold a ‘Day of Rage’ this coming Friday (October 13), including a call to go out and harm Israelis and Jews. From this it is likely that there will be protest events in various countries around the world, which may develop into violent events,” read the joint statement.The NSC and Foreign Ministry recommended that all Israelis abroad stay vigilant, stay away from demonstrations, and, if necessary, stay updated with local security forces about possible demonstrations and riots.
The “Day of Rage” protests were reported in several Islamic countries backed by the Muslim Brotherhood and similar jihad terror-linked groups. The Times of Israel noted Friday afternoon:
More than 10,000 people mass in central Amman near Grand Hussein Mosque, responding to call from Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood, as well as several leftist and youth groups.Similar protests are expected in Lebanon, Syria and other Arab countries following afternoon prayers on Friday. (…)In Baghdad, tens of thousands of demonstrators gather in Tahrir Square in the center of the city to show support for Palestinians and protest Israel.The protest is called by influential Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr.
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