Hamas “is telling Gaza residents to ignore our safety instructions,” the IDF said in its post.
In its Thursday report, the U.N. warned that it was “impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences.” The organization said it was urging Israel to rescind the order to avoid bringing about “a calamitous situation.”
The Israeli military has in the past publicized what it says are its efforts in Gaza to warn civilians prior to a military strike.
On the IDF’s website, the military said that “as part of its efforts to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza, the IDF makes phone calls and sends text messages to civilians residing in buildings designated for attack.”
The Israel Air Force has likewise “dropped leaflets over Gaza” that “urge civilians to move away from Hamas targets, making clear Israel’s intention to minimize civilian casualties,” the military said.
The warnings on Friday came as Israel was deploying huge numbers of troops and equipment along the Gaza border in what is projected to be a massive ground engagement against Hamas in the coming days and weeks. In a Thursday update, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht of the IDF said Israel has deployed “over 300,000 reserve soldiers” around the country “as we prepare for a broader range of responses.”
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