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IDF urges evacuation of small part of Gaza humanitarian zone, says terror groups operating there

By Emanuel Fabian 21 August 2024, 12:19 pm 7 Edit

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

The IDF is calling on Palestinians in a small section of the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah to evacuate.

Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, publishes a map of the zones that need to be evacuated.

He says that the military will “forcefully operate” against terror groups in the area.

“For your safety, we urge you to evacuate immediately to the west. The area you are in is considered a dangerous combat zone,” Adraee adds.

The size of the humanitarian zone has changed multiple times, amid evolving IDF operations against the Hamas terror group.

The zone is currently around 42 square kilometers, or 11% of the total size of the Gaza Strip. According to IDF estimates, some 1.9 million Palestinians of the 2.3 million Gazan population are residing in the zone.

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