Israel Urges Evacuation Amid Ongoing Rocket Fire from Northern Gaza

Israel has urged Palestinians in Beit Hanoun to evacuate following rocket attacks on Sderot and Ashkelon. The Israel Defence Forces issued warnings as tensions escalate with Hamas and other terrorist groups. Humanitarian aid routes remain disrupted after an attack injured five Israeli soldiers.

Israel called on Palestinians in Beit Hanoun to evacuate on Wednesday morning following rocket attacks on Sderot and Ashkelon, originating from the northern Gaza town. Colonel Avichay Adraee, the Israel Defence Force's Arabic-language spokesman, released a list of evacuation zones, urging residents to seek shelter in Gaza City. According to the army, fewer than 200,000 Palestinian civilians are currently in northern Gaza.

Adraee tweeted, 'Hamas and terrorist organizations are firing rockets from your area towards the State of Israel. The IDF will act forcefully and immediately against them.' On Tuesday, Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired three rockets from northern Gaza at Ashkelon and Sderot, resulting in one being intercepted and the other two landing in open areas without causing casualties or damage.

On Tuesday, the IDF temporarily closed a vital road used for delivering humanitarian aid after five soldiers were injured by Hamas fire. This route runs from the Kerem Shalom border crossing northward to Gaza City. The conflict has claimed at least 1,200 lives, with 252 Israelis and foreigners taken hostage during Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 115 remaining hostages, 39 have been declared dead. Hamas has held two Israeli civilians captive since 2014 and 2015, and also retains the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014.

(With inputs from agencies.)