The latest evacuation warning for parts of Gaza City and neighbouring areas came hours after the United Nations said it had begun distributing around 90 truckloads of aid in Gaza -- the first such delivery since Israel imposed a total blockade on March 2.
Under global pressure to lift the blockade and halt a newly expanded offensive, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was open to a “temporary ceasefire”, but reaffirmed the military aimed to bring all of Gaza under its control.
A map posted alongside the warning showed a swath of territory marked in red, with the army accusing “terrorist organisations” of operating there and urging civilians to move south.
After Israel announced it would allow in limited aid, Netanyahu said it was necessary to “avoid a humanitarian crisis in order to preserve our freedom of operational action”.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that “a small number of trucks carrying flour were intercepted by residents and their contents removed”.
- 'Hunger and disease' -
UN agencies have said that the amount of aid entering Gaza falls far short of what is required to ease the crisis.
“For them, I fear hunger and disease more than I do Israeli bombardment,“ he told AFP.
“Some aid is finally reaching Gazans in desperate need, but it’s moving far too slowly,“ said WFP executive director Cindy McCain.
Israel stepped up its offensive at the weekend, vowing to defeat Gaza's Hamas rulers, whose October 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war.
AFP footage of northern Gaza showed numerous plumes of smoke rising from the area over the course of the afternoon.
- 'Emboldening Hamas' -
Sweden said it would press the 27-nation European Union to impose sanctions on Israeli ministers, while Britain suspended free-trade negotiations with Israel.
Netanyahu hit back on Thursday, saying the three leaders “may think that they’re advancing peace. They’re not. They’re emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever.”
Gaza's health ministry says at least 3,613 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,762, mostly civilians.
Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel would be ready “if there is an option for a temporary ceasefire to free hostages”, noting that at least 20 captives held by Hamas and its allies were still believed to be alive.
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