Government officials indicate more time will be given for Palestinian civilians to leave the north of Gaza ahead of an expected full-scale ground offensive.
Military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner did not say there is a deadline to leave north Gaza, but told a news briefing: “We have extended once again because we realised that there is a huge amount of people that need to get out. We are continuing to encourage the population in the north of the Gaza Strip and Gaza City to go south and get out of harm’s way.”
Foreign ministry spokesman Lior Haiat told the briefing Israel is not demanding Palestinians leave Gaza – but just to get out of the north.
“We gave them [civilians] the time to do so and we will continue to give civilians time to leave the places that we think Hamas is using for its terrorist infrastructure,” Haiat said.
Source: Al Jazeera
