The Israel’s three-hour deadline for people in Gaza to flee the city has concluded at 3:30pm, as it wants to bombard the city, international media reported.
According to Israeli military spokespersons, the army is anticipating a “political decision” regarding the timing of a significant ground assault on the Gaza Strip, while civilians are intensifying their efforts to escape from northern Gaza.
In Gaza, the death toll has risen to 2,329 Palestinians, with 9,714 sustaining injuries, while in the West Bank, 54 have been reported dead and 1,100 wounded since Israel initiated its bombardment on October 7.
Israel has ordered 1.1 million individuals in northern Gaza to move to the south of the territory.
On Friday, at least 70 people — mostly women and children — were killed after Israeli airstrikes hit convoys of Palestinian evacuees fleeing Gaza. Cars were struck in three places as they headed south from Gaza City.
Pressure from the United Nations and its allies has urged Israel to refrain from any invasion until all civilians have had the opportunity to evacuate.
The military has not disclosed when the safe passage windows will be closed.
Military spokesperson Lieutenant Richard Hecht and Daniel Hagari stated in separate briefings on Sunday that “a political decision” would be the trigger for any action.
Israel said on Saturday evening that its military forces were preparing to implement a “wide range of operational offensive plans”, ahead of an expected full-scale ground invasion of Gaza.
The Israel Defense Force said that its forces were deployed “across the country” and were increasing “operational readiness for the next stages of the war, with an emphasis on significant ground operations”.
