In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that it did not demand residents of the Gaza Strip to relocate to Egypt. Instead, they advised them to move to the southern part of the enclave for their own safety. The spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hassan Kaabia, emphasized that there were no discussions about any movements to Egypt or Sinai.
Kaabia further stated that the Israeli army had proposed opening safe corridors within the Gaza Strip, including in the northern region. He assured that the territory where they currently reside is a battlefield, and Israel aims to abide by international law and minimize harm to civilians during the bombings.
The recent escalation began on October 7 when Hamas launched thousands of rockets into Israeli territory, declaring the start of the operation “Flood of Al-Aqsa.” Thousands of militants infiltrated Israeli territory, seizing dozens of military vehicles and over a hundred hostages. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was in a state of war.
The Israeli Defense Forces’ counter-operation, named “Iron Swords,” aims to destroy Hamas. The Israeli Air Force has targeted hundreds of Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip, while the Israeli National Security Council decided to halt the supply of water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel to the enclave. On October 13, Israel informed the United Nations that 1.1 million Palestinians must evacuate to the southern part of Gaza within 24 hours in anticipation of a ground operation.
In a coordinated effort, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy have agreed to assist in sending humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Previously, the Israel Defense Forces set a condition for the cancellation of a ground operation in Gaza.
