The Israeli military said more than 250,000 people have fled Gaza City to other parts of the Palestinian territory in recent weeks, since Israel intensified its attacks on Gaza's largest urban center.
"According to Israeli military estimates, more than a quarter of a million residents of Gaza City have fled the city for their safety," Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X.
The United Nations estimates that close to 1 million Palestinians live in and around Gaza City.
On September 13, the Israeli army dropped leaflets from the air calling on residents of the western districts to evacuate, as Gaza's civil defense agency reported continued attacks.
"The Israeli army is operating with very intense force in your area and is committed to destroying and defeating Hamas [the Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union]," the pamphlet states.
Israel, which has threatened an operation to take full control of Gaza City, is facing international pressure not to go ahead with the plan. But the state says it is determined to destroy Hamas and says Gaza City is one of the Palestinian group's last bastions.
In recent weeks, the army has attacked high-rise buildings, saying they are being used by Hamas.
The UN and the international community have warned that the Israeli army offensive will worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza City, where the UN has declared a state of famine.
According to the Gaza Civil Defense Agency, at least five people have been killed by Israeli strikes since Saturday morning.
The day before, at least 50 people were killed across the Gaza Strip, according to this agency.
The war in Gaza began after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing nearly 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 others. As a result of the Israeli retaliatory offensive, more than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry - figures considered reliable by the UN./REL
