Israeli army orders evacuation of Jabalia refugee camp, 13 northern Gaza neighborhoods ahead of strikes

​​​​​​​By Jomaa Younis and Rania Abu Shamala

GAZA CITY, Palestine/ISTANBUL (AA) - The Israeli army warned Palestinians in the Jabalia refugee camp and 13 neighborhoods in northern Gaza to "immediately" evacuate Wednesday, threatening to launch heavy strikes in those areas.

Army spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X that “this is a prior warning before the attack.”

He said the attacks would target the Jabalia camp and the neighborhoods of Ghaben, al-Shaimaa, Fadous, al-Manshiya, Sheikh Zayed, al-Salatin, al-Karama, Beit Lahia Project, Al-Zuhour, Tal al-Zaatar, Al-Nour, Ibad al-Rahman and al-Nahda.

He urged Palestinians in those areas to head toward the south, claiming that the military "will operate with full force in any area from which rocket fire is launched."

The Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 53,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.​​​​​​​

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.