"To all residents of Gaza city and all neighboring areas, from the Old Quarter and Tuffah in the east to the west sea. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is determined to defeat Hamas and will operate strongly in the Gaza city area, as it has deployed throughout the entire Gaza Strip. For your safety, evacuate immediately through the Rashid axis towards the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi," avichay Adraee, a spokesman for the Israeli army, said on September 9.
The leaflets carrying the message, including maps guiding residents across northern Gaza to move west to the coast before heading south, have also been released to the north.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Palestinians to evacuate from Gaza City on September 8, stressing that this is just the beginning of land intensification activities in Gaza City. The warning was issued hours after the Israeli army increased airstrikes in urban areas.
The Israeli military has expanded military operations in recent weeks to take over and occupy Gaza city. Israel claims to control 40% of the country's largest city.
