Hamas Using "Human Shields" Urges "Gaza Residents Not to Evacuate"

When the Israeli military issued a civilian evacuation order for Gaza City, the center of the Palestinian Gaza Strip, the armed group Hamas blocked the evacuation, urging people not to fall for the 'propaganda war,' CNN and The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 13th (local time).

According to the reports, Hamas stated in a press release sent to media outlets that "Israel's recommendation for residents to evacuate is merely propaganda and psychological warfare," and insisted that "Palestinians in the Gaza Strip should not leave their homes."

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Hamas claimed, "(Israel) is attempting to spread and disseminate false propaganda through various channels with the aim of creating confusion among civilians and undermining the stability of our internal front."

The Ministry of Interior in the Gaza Strip, governed by Hamas, also said that Israel is "focusing on psychological tactics to strike our internal front and expel civilians."

Earlier, the United Nations announced that it had been informed by the Israeli government the previous night to move nearly half of the entire population of the Gaza Strip (2.3 million people), approximately 1.1 million, to the southern region within 24 hours.

The Israeli military also issued a statement on the same day recommending that all residents of Gaza City, located in the northern Gaza Strip, immediately evacuate to the southern Gaza Strip.

In response, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) posted on X (formerly Twitter) that it had relocated its central operations center and international staff on the ground to the southern Gaza Strip.

However, Hamas claimed that staff employed by international organizations have not evacuated and are maintaining their positions.

A security-related source in the Gaza Strip told dpa news agency that "residents will be prevented from leaving the north."

Quoting local witnesses, the report added that many residents attempting to move to the southern Gaza Strip were blocked by Hamas and instructed to return north, causing confusion and fear to spread locally.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.