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| Israel-Gaza conflict: Hundreds of Palestinians flee as Israeli military prepares to intensify assault | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of Palestinians are fleeing Gaza after Israel warned residents to evacuate immediately amid plans to step up its military offensive. | Hundreds of Palestinians are fleeing Gaza after Israel warned residents to evacuate immediately amid plans to step up its military offensive. |
| Naval commandos launched its first ground offensive early this morning in a bid to destroy a rocket-launching site in northern Gaza. | |
| It was a brief raid to remove long-range arsenal from a site - the mission had an exchange of gunfire. | It was a brief raid to remove long-range arsenal from a site - the mission had an exchange of gunfire. |
| Leaflets were then dropped into the homes of civilians in the northwest of Gaza, asking them to evacuate, ahead of what a military spokesman described as a “short and temporary” assault on the region. | Leaflets were then dropped into the homes of civilians in the northwest of Gaza, asking them to evacuate, ahead of what a military spokesman described as a “short and temporary” assault on the region. |
| It is unclear whether this attack would comprise of a further ground offensive or continued airstrikes. | It is unclear whether this attack would comprise of a further ground offensive or continued airstrikes. |
| The flyers said that the military intends to target "terrorists and terrorist infrastructures in the area east of Al-Atatra and Al-Salatin St, and in the area west of and north of Ma'bscar Jabalyia." | |
| “Those who fail to comply with the instructions will endanger their lives and the lives of their families. Beware.” the leaflet said. | “Those who fail to comply with the instructions will endanger their lives and the lives of their families. Beware.” the leaflet said. |
| We are dropping these leaflets above N. Gaza, warning civilians to move away from Hamas terrorists & command centers. pic.twitter.com/HxVWjjGpsC | We are dropping these leaflets above N. Gaza, warning civilians to move away from Hamas terrorists & command centers. pic.twitter.com/HxVWjjGpsC |
| Palestinian residents of the city of Beit Lahiya, in which Al-Atatra is a neighbourhood, have begun leaving the Strip via the Erez crossing into Israel. | Palestinian residents of the city of Beit Lahiya, in which Al-Atatra is a neighbourhood, have begun leaving the Strip via the Erez crossing into Israel. |
| According to officials, 800 Palestinians with foreign passports ranging from British, to American and Australia, have already fled today. | |
| "They are sending warning messages," resident Mohammad Abu Halemah told the Associated Press. "Once we received the message, we felt scared to stay in our homes. We want to leave." | "They are sending warning messages," resident Mohammad Abu Halemah told the Associated Press. "Once we received the message, we felt scared to stay in our homes. We want to leave." |
| Palestinians leave Gaza Another, Ahmed Mohana, who is a US citizen, said: "It is very hard, it is very tough. We are leaving our family, our relatives and brothers and sisters in this horrible situation —we have to do what we have to do." | |
| The Israeli army tweeted this morning: "We warned civilians in N. Gaza to move away from Hamas targets. Hamas told civilians to ignore our warnings & remain in the line of fire." | The Israeli army tweeted this morning: "We warned civilians in N. Gaza to move away from Hamas targets. Hamas told civilians to ignore our warnings & remain in the line of fire." |
| It comes after the United Nations Security Council called for a ceasefire to the bloody conflict which has left 160 Palestinians dead. | It comes after the United Nations Security Council called for a ceasefire to the bloody conflict which has left 160 Palestinians dead. |
| A statement from the UN said: “The Security Council members called for de-escalation of the situation, restoration of calm and reinstitution of the November 2012 ceasefire.” | A statement from the UN said: “The Security Council members called for de-escalation of the situation, restoration of calm and reinstitution of the November 2012 ceasefire.” |
| An Israeli cabinet minister said the army is “ready and poised” for a ground offensive, following a week-long aerial bombardment on what is says are Hamas terror operations. | An Israeli cabinet minister said the army is “ready and poised” for a ground offensive, following a week-long aerial bombardment on what is says are Hamas terror operations. |
| Palestinian militants have launched more than 800 rockets out of Gaza, the military said, while Israel has staged more than 1,300 airstrikes. | Palestinian militants have launched more than 800 rockets out of Gaza, the military said, while Israel has staged more than 1,300 airstrikes. |
| Despite international pressure calling on Israel to halt the attacks, it has widened its target area to include civilian institutions that are suspected of concealing Hamas weaponry. | Despite international pressure calling on Israel to halt the attacks, it has widened its target area to include civilian institutions that are suspected of concealing Hamas weaponry. |
| Mourners carry the body of a Palestinian militant A strike on a centre of the disabled killed two patients and wounded four others, while a second attack flattened the home of Gaza police chief Taysir al-Batsh and damaged a nearby mosque, killing 18. | |
| Medics in Gaza have said they are struggling to cope with the demand on services and to reach those most in need. | Medics in Gaza have said they are struggling to cope with the demand on services and to reach those most in need. |
| Audrey Landmann, the medical co-ordinator for Médecins sans Frontières, said: “The health system in Gaza is very fragile. | Audrey Landmann, the medical co-ordinator for Médecins sans Frontières, said: “The health system in Gaza is very fragile. |
| “It was already fragile before the beginning of the war. With the increase in patients in the hospitals, the situation can very quickly become catastrophic.” | “It was already fragile before the beginning of the war. With the increase in patients in the hospitals, the situation can very quickly become catastrophic.” |
| German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is travelling to Israel on Monday for two-day talks with both sides of the conflict in an attempt to put a halt to the "unbearable" and "heartbreaking" violence. | |
| He was quoted by the Bild am Sonntag newspaper as saying: "Hamas' rocket terror against Israeli cities and villages has to finally stop. The region now needs a coalition of sanity to find ways out of the escalation." |