Hamas has called on Gaza residents to ignore Israel’s directive to evacuate “southwards,” countering Israel’s orders. The Palestinian militant group accused Israel of spreading false propaganda to confuse citizens and destabilize the internal front. Hamas claimed that employees of international institutions were not evacuating and remained at their posts.
Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had called for the evacuation of Gaza City residents for their safety and protection. The area suggested for evacuation is south of the Wadi Gaza, a river valley known for its coastal wetlands. This comes in response to ongoing hostilities in the region.