The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have accused Hamas of using civilians in Gaza as “human shields” to stop their evacuation from the northern parts of the enclave. After the Israeli military ordered approximately one million civilians in and around Gaza City to move to the southern areas of Gaza, the IDF alleged that Hamas was actively trying to prevent Palestinians from evacuating.
The IDF spokesman stated that they would assess the situation on the ground, and once it’s deemed safe for significant combat operations, they would commence. The IDF also clarified that they do not target Palestinian civilians and blamed Hamas for the current situation, expressing their aim to dismantle Hamas and its military capabilities.