More than 600,000 individuals have fled the Gaza City area, according to Israel’s chief military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, AP News reports.
Last week, Israel issued evacuation orders for over 1 million Palestinians, nearly half of Gaza’s population, to move south past Wadi Gaza.
Israel’s military states this move is to clear civilians in preparation for a major military operation to dismantle the Hamas militant group.
However, Hamas has called on people to remain in their homes and has allegedly set up roadblocks to prevent traffic from moving south.
More than 1,400 Israelis were killed in the surprise attack by Hamas on Oct 7, with an additional 155 others captured as hostages and taken into Gaza.
The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that 2,670 Palestinians have been killed and 9,600 wounded since fighting erupted again.
