Gazans Begin Journey North After Israeli Evacuation Order

Gaza residents traveled to Israeli designated “humanitarian zones” in central Gaza on Monday, May 6, after leaflets were dropped by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) telling people in Rafah to “evacuate immediately.”

Footage filmed by Palestinian journalist Mohamed Abo Oun showed a number of vehicles carrying luggage and belongings heading north toward the Bani Suhaila roundabout in Khan Yunis.

Abo Oun told Storyful that the people were heading north after the IDF dropped evacuation order leaflets warning of an impending operation in the city in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to machine translation, the leaflet read: “The Israel Defense Forces will act with extreme force against the terrorist organizations in the areas where you live – as it has done so far. Anyone who is near terrorist organizations puts his life and the life of his family at risk. For your safety, the Israel Defense Forces calls on you to evacuate immediately to the humanitarian zone.”

Footage filmed by Palestinian journalist Mahmoud Bassam showed large quantities of leaflets falling from the sky in Rafah on Monday. A man was filmed picking up a leaflet and showing it to the camera.

Further video filmed by Bassam showed Israeli strikes on the city on the same day.

The Times of Israel reported that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin that there was “no choice left” but to launch an offensive in Rafah.

Hamas said any Israeli military offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza will not be a “picnic,” according to Al Jazeera, adding it was “fully prepared” to defend Palestinians. Credit: Mohamed Abo Oun via Storyful

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