Israel warns Gaza residents to leave, continues airstrikes
Israel’s military has warned tens of thousands of residents in northern Gaza to leave their homes “until further notice,” as it continues its campaign of airstrikes against Hamas militants who have been firing rockets toward Israel.
Israeli warplanes struck dozens of sites early yesterday including the home of senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar.
A flier posted by the Israel Defense Forces say anyone who does not leave the area “immediately endangers their own lives, as well as those of their families.”
Hamas officials told people to ignore the warnings, saying Israel is using “psychological warfare.” The airstrikes yesterday have killed at least three people and caused damage to several sites including a rehabilitation hospital.
Palestinian health officials say at least 204 people have been killed since Israel began an operation to end Hamas rocket attacks last week. One Israeli has died.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was due to meet in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi to discuss how to successfully implement an Egyptianproposed cease-fire. Israel accepted the plan Tuesday, but Hamas rejected it.
The Fattah movement led by Abbas joined Hamas in a Palestinian unity government last month, bringing together the entities that had separately governed the West Bank and Gaza.
Israel’s military held fire for six hours after agreeing to the cease-fire proposal, but resumed after Gaza militants fired about 50 rockets at Israel. In all, the military said 155 rockets were fired from Gaza on Tuesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he would have preferred to solve the conflict to expand and intensify the campaign against it.”