Israel orders Gaza families to move in first forced evacuation since ceasefire

"Residents of Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Younis, said the leaflets were dropped on Monday on families living in tent encampments in the Al-Reqeb neighbourhood. "Urgent message. The area is under IDF control. You must evacuate immediately," said the leaflets, written in Arabic, Hebrew, and English, which the army dropped over the Al‑Reqeb neighbourhood in the town of Bani Suhaila."

"Israel's military denied having plans to forcibly displace Palestinians from the area. It confirmed the leaflet drops but said they were aimed at warning Palestinians not to cross the armistice line with Hamas. In the two-year war before the U.S. brokered ceasefire was signed in October, Israel dropped leaflets over areas that were subsequently raided or bombarded, forcing some families to move several times."

Leaflets ordering immediate evacuation were dropped over the Al-Reqeb neighbourhood in Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Younis, in Arabic, Hebrew and English. Residents and a Hamas source said the drop was the first since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in October. Israel's military confirmed the drops, denied plans to forcibly displace Palestinians, and said the leaflets aimed to warn people not to cross the armistice line with Hamas. In the previous two-year war, leaflets often preceded raids or bombardments and forced families to move repeatedly. The ceasefire has halted major fighting but has only partially progressed, leaving most Gaza residents confined to a third of the territory.

Read at Irish Independent