Israeli forces dropped new leaflets on southern Gaza on Tuesday, December 5, instructing residents to stay inside shelters during what IDF Southern Command General Yaron Finkelman called the most intense day since the beginning of their ground operation.
After several days ordering residents in six districts of Khan Younis to flee, the new leaflet instructions read: “For your safety, stay in the shelters and the hospitals where you are. Don’t get out. Going out is dangerous. You have been warned.”
Hundreds of bombs and other munitions were dropped on Gaza, a senior Israeli commander said on Tuesday.
Hospitals struggled to help the scores of wounded Palestinians, as images of mortally wounded Palestinian civilians - many of them small children - continued to shock the world.
Israel says the blame falls on Hamas fighters for operating among civilians and in underground tunnels they say can be destroyed only by bombing. Hamas denies using human shields.Israeli bombardments have driven 80 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents from their homes. Gazans say nowhere is safe.
At least 15,900 Palestinians have been killed according to Gaza health officials since Israel began their assault on Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people.“We’re moving ahead with the second stage now. A second stage that is going to be difficult militarily,” Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy said.
U.S. aid chief arrived in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on Tuesday, where she announced more than $21 million in additional assistance for the Palestinian people.
