The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued early Tuesday morning orders to evacuate Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza and the Khuza, Abasan al-Kabira, and Abasan al-Jadida neighborhoods in the southern city of Khan Yunis, all of which are close to the border with Israel, following the operation launched tonight against the Islamic terrorist group Hamas in the Strip.
"The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has launched a powerful offensive against terrorist organizations. These specific areas are considered dangerous combat zones!" read a statement released by the Israeli forces' Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee.
With this statement, the Israel Defense Forces called on the population to evacuate to shelters in western Gaza City, in the case of the town of Beit Hanoun, and to those in Khan Yunis, in the case of the border neighborhoods.
“Continuing in the designated areas puts your life and the lives of your family members at risk,” the statement concluded.
This morning, Israel again bombed Hamas targets in Gaza after nearly two months of ceasefire in the enclave.
The Israel Defense Forces has not yet commented on whether the areas subject to evacuation orders will be targeted by a ground incursion. Before the ceasefire went into effect on January 19, such orders typically preceded troop entry into the territories.
Furthermore, Israeli troops remain concentrated in a "buffer zone" stipulated in the ceasefire agreement, along the border near the areas to be evacuated.
"The IDF is currently attacking Hamas terrorist organization targets throughout the Gaza Strip to achieve the war's objectives, as determined by the political leadership, including the release of all our hostages, both living and deceased," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office announced early this morning.
"From now on, Israel will act against Hamas with increasing military force," the statement added, adding that the "operational plan" for returning to war "was presented last weekend by the IDF and approved by the political leadership."
Agencies contributed to this Aurora article