Israel Says Opens Evacuation Route for Gaza Residents to South for 3 Hours
12:50 15.10.2023 (Updated: 13:11 15.10.2023)
© AFP 2024 MAHMUD HAMSPalestinian families with their belongings flee following the Israeli army's warning to leave their homes and move south before an expected ground offensive, in Gaza City on October 13, 2023.
© AFP 2024 MAHMUD HAMS
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Following the unprecedented Hamas' attack against Israel on October 7, Jerusalem declared a state of war and launched retaliatory attacks on Gaza Strip. On October 14, it was announced that Israel is preparing to expand its offensive in the region, adding that the focus will be on a ground operation.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday it opened an evacuation route for northern Gaza residents to the south from 07:00 to 10:00 GMT.
"Residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza, in the past days, we've urged you to relocate to the southern area for your safety. We want to inform you that the IDF will not carry out any operations along this route from 10 am to 1 pm [07:00 to 10:00 GMT]. During this window, please take the opportunity to move southward from northern Gaza," the IDF said on X.
The map of the Gaza Strip attached to the Israeli army's post identifies Salah Al-Din Street as the road for the humanitarian corridor.
On October 14, the IDF said that it was preparing to launch a ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
On October 7, Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to declare a state of war the following day and launch retaliatory strikes. On October 9, Israel ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million people, cutting off supplies of water, food and fuel. Both Israel and Palestine have reported over 1,000 deaths and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation.