For the first time since the war began, the IDF has entered Deir al-Balah, a central Gaza city previously untouched by ground forces.
The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to civilians in the city’s southwest, urging them to move to the Mawasi coastal zone.
According to IDF spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee, the goal is to destroy Hamas terror infrastructure in this newly targeted area.
The military has avoided Deir al-Balah until now due to concerns Hamas may be holding hostages there.
Roughly 350,000 Palestinians are estimated to live in central Gaza. It remains unclear how many are affected by the new operations.
