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Israeli military drops leaflets in southern Gaza city of Khan Younis calling it a “fighting zone”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) dropped leaflets in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Friday, calling it a “fighting zone” and telling residents to “evacuate immediately.”
“To the residents of Al Qarara, Khirbet Khaza’a, Abadan and Bani Suheila. You have to evacuate immediately and head to the shelter in [the] Rafah area. Khan Younis city is a fighting zone,” the leaflet said in Arabic.
During fighting prior to the recent truce, Israel repeatedly told residents of northern Gaza to move south of Wadi Gaza for their safety. The city of Khan Younis is located south of that line. The United Nations estimates that at least 946,000 internally displaced Gazans are currently in southern Gaza.
The leaflet drop came as Israel said on Friday it had resumed combat operations against Hamas after the seven-day truce.
- The Israeli military says it has resumed combat operations against Hamas, accusing the militant group of violating the truce agreement by firing toward Israel.
- The military’s announcement came moments after a seven-day truce between Israel and Hamas for the release of civilian hostages expired with no indications the sides had agreed to extend the deal.
- Egyptian and Qatari negotiators were working to extend the temporary and uneasy truce for an additional two days, Egypt said. The current deal expired at 7 a.m. local time (midnight ET).
- Eight more hostages were released from Gaza and 30 Palestinians were freed from Israeli jails Thursday.
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Israel needs to make further efforts to protect civilians in Gaza when Israel resumes its military campaign.
- Here’s how to help humanitarian efforts in Israel and Gaza.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas continuing, Qatar Foreign Ministry confirms
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas are continuing despite the resumption of hostilities, according to a statement from the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
“Negotiations between the two sides are continuing with the aim of returning to a pause,” the statement said.
The ministry added that “the continued bombing of the Gaza Strip in the first hours after the end of the pause complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in the strip.”
It called on the international community to “move quickly to stop the violence.”
Qatar condemned any targeting or forced displacement of civilians in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire to ensure the unhindered flow of relief aid into the strip, according to the statement.
Rocket sirens sound in Israeli communities surrounding Gaza, Israeli military says
Sirens warning of incoming rockets sounded in communities surrounding the Gaza Strip and the city of Ashkelon Friday morning, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The warnings came in the hours after a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas ended at 7 a.m. local time (12 a.m. ET). One siren sounded in the hour before the truce ended.
The IDF said it had resumed combat operations against Hamas, claiming the group violated the truce and fired toward Israel.
32 people killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes Friday, Hamas-controlled ministry spokesperson says
Thirty-two people have been killed and dozens injured by Israeli strikes in Gaza on Friday, according to a spokesperson for the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health.
Earlier, the ministry said 14 people had been killed.
Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra said the majority of those killed were women and children.
A statement from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Interior said that Israeli strikes had resumed across Gaza Friday morning after a temporary truce between the militant group and Israel ended.
