(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accused Hamas of deliberately impeding the evacuation efforts of Palestinians in the north of the region.
According to a statement by IDF Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari reported by the Times of Israel on Saturday, Hamas appeared determined to use the local population as human shields.
This is real.
Hamas is forcefully preventing their civilians from relocating to southern Gaza for their own safety. pic.twitter.com/ykw3YwC3mG
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 14, 2023
“We see an active effort by Hamas to block and prevent the population from going south. Hamas wants to show the world that it has casualties and dead,” Hagari said. “We continue to urge the residents of Gaza City, go south… Hamas wants you as human shields… This is for your personal safety.”
Hagari added, “We are going to attack very widely in Gaza City in the near future.”
Supporting this claim, the Israeli Air Force highlighted on Twitter that Hamas had actively hindered the safe movement of residents in the Gaza Strip along central routes.
“Hamas obstructed and prevented the safe passage of residents in the Gaza Strip moving along central roads,” the Israeli Air Force said.
Following the IDF’s warning, residents of the Gaza Strip began to evacuate from their homes to south of the Wadi Gaza for their own protection. Hamas obstructed and prevented the safe passage of residents in the Gaza Strip moving along central roads. pic.twitter.com/ucLyKq8xdm
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 14, 2023
The tension escalated following the Israeli instructions for civilians in the northern region of the Gaza Strip to evacuate. Fox News foreign correspondent Trey Yingst reported that Israeli forces had conducted targeted operations within the Gaza Strip.
“This was not the full-scale invasion that everyone is still anticipating, but it was an effort, according to the Israeli military, to eliminate militants along the border and also to gather information on those held hostage inside the Gaza Strip,” Yingst reported.
In response, the IDF clarified that it had taken substantial steps toward preparing for combat operations.
The world needs to know: we are at war with Hamas, NOT the people of Gaza. pic.twitter.com/9ndPMdAyYf
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 14, 2023
“In recent days, the tools required for combat have been transferred to the assembly areas, and at this stage the various units of the Technological and Logistics Directorate are working to complete the qualification of the tools and equipping them with advanced combat means, as needed,” the IDF announced.
An operational update from IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari: pic.twitter.com/2QNm29UYZ7
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 8, 2023
