Hyderabad: More than 100,000 people have fled as Israel pressed ahead with military operations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday in Jerusalem.
According to Times of Israel, Netanyahu accused Hamas of trying to stop civilians from leaving by using them as human shields. He claimed Hamas fighters even fired on women and children to block their escape.
Gaza City was declared a combat zone by Israel
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) earlier dropped leaflets urging residents to evacuate. The military described Gaza City as a Hamas stronghold and designated it a combat zone. Forces are now advancing into the city’s interior, while directing civilians toward humanitarian zones in southern Gaza.
Israel said temporary hospitals, food, water, and tents would be available there, and safe routes were open for vehicles.
The UN estimates that about one million Palestinians remain inside Gaza City. Aid agencies warned that mass displacement could deepen the humanitarian crisis. They stressed that the humanitarian zone was declared unilaterally by Israel, without UN involvement.
