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Palestinian Warnings of Escalating Military Operations in Gaza City
While the Israeli army continues to prepare for a further invasion of Gaza following its intense bombing of the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood on Friday and Saturday nights, Palestinian sources issued warnings about the danger of ongoing military escalation. Sources told Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath on Saturday that “a complete invasion of Gaza City would put the lives of the living Israeli prisoners at risk.” They added that “ demolishing lands and streets in Gaza will make it more difficult to reach the bodies of dead prisoners in the future.”
The sources emphasized that Hamas will remain committed to preserving the lives of its prisoners, viewing them as the last remaining leverage it holds. They declared that Hamas will not abandon or jeopardize them, even at the risk of involving them in ongoing battles in the sector. It was noted that Hamas will not abandon its prisoners alive and will protect them from any potential targeting during military operations.
Meanwhile, Gaza City, especially the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, experienced intense shelling yesterday that lasted for hours, accompanied by heavy Israeli helicopter flights. Israeli security sources later confirmed that the Israeli army is preparing to evacuate the city’s residents after announcing the start of the first phase of its attack. An Israeli official explained that Israel plans to reduce aerial aid drops into Gaza in the coming days and limit the entry of relief trucks into the northern part of the sector, with preparations underway to evacuate hundreds of thousands of residents to the south—an action aimed at gaining control over the military and humanitarian situation in the area.
