The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has opened two safe routes for the civilians, who are moving from the north of the Gaza Strip ahead of the Israel’s ground attack.
According to IDF, the safe routes will be open from 10 am to 4 pm (local time). Taking to X, IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee said that “For your safety, take advantage of the short time to move south.”
The safe routes were one along the coast and one down the centre of the Gaza Strip.
A 24 hour deadline was given by Israel for the Palestinians to move to south of Gaza Strip as they are gearing up for ground attack.
Meanwhile, IDF claimed that another Hamas commander, Ali Qadhi, who led the cross-border attack on Israeli settlements last Saturday, was killed in the airstrikes.
The Israeli military said Qadhi was killed in a drone strike following intelligence efforts by the Shin Bet security agency and Military Intelligence Directorate. "Ali Qadi led the inhumane, barbaric October 7 massacre of civilians in Israel. We just eliminated him. All Hamas terrorists will meet the same fate," said IDF on X (formerly Twitter).
Qadhi was company commander in Nukhba unit. According to IDF, Qadhi was arrested in 2005 over the kidnapping and murder of Israeli civilians and had been relased to the Gaza Strip as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange, reported the Times of Israel.
So far, two top Hamas commanders were killed in the Israeli strikes. Murad Abu Murad, the head of Hamas’s air force, was killed in an overnight airstrike in Gaza, said IDF.
While, foreigners stuck in Gaza will be able to move out through the Rafah crossing in Egypt. Egypt, Israel and the United States have agreed to follow foreigners in Gaza to pass through the crossing. They are expected to be flown out of the nation on Saturday.
The diplomatic talks to end the conflict is resuming at one end. According to Russian state-owned news agency Ria-Novosti, Russia’s foreign minister hopes to meet representatives of Hamas in the Gulf State of Qatar next week to discuss the release of Israeli hostages.
With the ongoing attacks, humanitarian efforts in Gaza has suffered a big blow. Humanitarian organisations including Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders working on ground is facing a huge challenge meeting the needs.
Meanwhile, Meirav Eilon Shahar, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva, has insisted that Israel is complying with international humanitarian law.
"IDF takes every feasible precaution available to mitigate unintended civilian harm, including warning of operations that may cause harm to civilians, in Arabic, through media, social media, dropping leaflets, civic and international organizations. Under IHL, warnings should be effective and in advance. IDF is complying with these requirements,” he said.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said the death toll following retaliatory strikes by Israel had reached 2,215, with 8,700 people injured.
