Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged Palestinians to immediately leave Gaza City ahead of an imminent military operation.
According to The Times of Israel, citing a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Israeli army is preparing a large-scale assault on the area.
“I say to the residents of Gaza — listen carefully, you have been warned. Leave now,” Netanyahu stated, as reported by Interfax.
He claimed that over the past two days, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) destroyed “50 terrorist towers” belonging to Hamas. Netanyahu called this a prelude to a broader campaign to capture Gaza, noting that Israeli forces are already massing in the area.
The IDF has repeatedly called on Gaza residents to evacuate their homes due to the pending offensive. However, according to United Nations data, around one million Palestinians remain in the city. International humanitarian organizations have described the situation in Gaza and the wider besieged zone as catastrophic.
Israel officially approved the operation plan on August 8, as confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Office. A reserve call-up was announced. The decision has faced criticism both domestically and internationally.
