Jerusalem [Israel], October 8: Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have urged civilians in Gaza to leave their residential areas immediately for their safety as Israeli military operations continue to target Hamas following Saturday's surprise attacks.
"Residents of the Gaza Strip, pay attention! Hamas operations force the IDF to operate in your place of residence. For your safety, you must leave your place of residence immediately," AvichayAdraee, IDF spokesman for the Arab media, said in a post on X on Sunday.
The post includes four videos that give instructions to civilians in Gaza on where to go in each area of the city.
Some context: Almost 2 million people live in Gaza's 140 square miles. Governed by Hamas, the densely packed territory is largely cut off from the rest of the world by an Israeli blockade of Gaza's land, air and sea dating back to 2007. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border crossing, Rafah.
Israel has placed heavy restrictions on the freedom of civilian movement and controls the import of basic goods into the narrow coastal strip.
Source: Fijian Broadcasting Corporation