Israel's military orders civilians to evacuate Gaza City, ahead of a feared ground offensive
Israel’s military has directed the hundreds of thousands of residents in Gaza City to evacuate “for their own safety and protection,” ahead of a feared Israeli ground offensive JERUSALEM -- Israel’s military delivered sweeping evacuation orders for almost half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people Friday ahead of a feared ground offensive aiming at eradicating the Hamas militant group after its grisly assault into Israel, U.N. officials said. The orders sent panic through civilians and aid workers already struggling under Israeli airstrikes and a blockade. The Israeli military sent one evacuation order in the morning, warning the hundreds of thousands of civilians of Gaza City to flee deeper south into the Gaza Strip, a narrow coastal territory. Israel’s directive charged that Hamas militants were hiding in tunnels under the city. “This evacuation is for your own safety,” the Israeli military said, in a warning it said was sent to Gaza City civilians. The United Nations said it received a separ...