IDF calls on nearly all residents of Gaza City to evacuate as Israel prepares for full-scale invasion

The IDF on Tuesday morning issued a call for Palestinian civilians living in Gaza City to evacuate immediately, ahead of the military’s full-scale incursion to take control over one of Hamas’ last remaining strongholds. 

The warning now extends to neighborhoods previously excluded, meaning the IDF has issued evacuation orders for all of Gaza City.

IDF Arabic Spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee released the message on Tuesday morning, "To all residents of the city of Gaza and those present in all its neighborhoods, from the Old City and Tuffah to the east and up to the sea to the west.” 

He warned that the IDF “is determined to eliminate Hamas and will operate in the Gaza City area with great force, as it has operated in various parts of the Strip.”

“For your safety, evacuate immediately via the Al-Rashid axis towards the humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi,” Adraee stated. “Remaining in the area is extremely dangerous.” 

#عاجل إلى جميع سكان مدينة غزة والمتواجدين في كل أحيائها، من المدينة القديمة وتفاح شرقًا وحتى البحر غربًا

⭕️جيش الدفاع مصمم على حسم حماس وسيعمل في منطقة مدينة غزة بقوة كبيرة، كما عمل في مختلف أنحاء القطاع.

⭕️من أجل سلامتكم، أخلوا فورًا عبر محور الرشيد باتجاه المنطقة الإنسانية في… pic.twitter.com/XiNYwBhPOQ

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) September 9, 2025

The warning comes after Israel has been preparing for the full-scale invasion of Gaza City by encouraging civilians to evacuate the area, while also allowing the delivery of more humanitarian supplies – including shelters – into southern Gaza in preparation.

In his statement, Adraee also provided a phone number for Gaza residents to call and report incidents of Hamas blocking attempts to evacuate. He said the number was “to report barriers set up by Hamas or attempts by its elements to prevent evacuation.” 

Over the past few days, the IDF has demolished several high-rise buildings where it said Hamas operatives were active. According to the military, Hamas frequently uses such structures for sniper positions or to monitor IDF troop movements. Evacuation notices were issued before the strikes.

The Hamas-affiliated Gaza Civil Defense Agency said that over the past three days, at least five high-rise buildings have been destroyed by Israel. This figure is significantly lower than that cited by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

In a post on 𝕏 early on Tuesday morning, Katz claimed that “30 multi-storey terror buildings were attacked and destroyed” by the IDF. 

Referring to his earlier warning that “a powerful hurricane will strike the skies of Gaza City, and the roofs of the terror towers will tremble” if Hamas didn’t surrender and release the hostages, Katz wrote, “The hurricane storm struck Gaza yesterday with unprecedented force; 30 multi-storey terror buildings were attacked and destroyed, and dozens more terror targets were bombed and destroyed, to thwart observation and terror infrastructures and pave the way for manoeuvring forces.” 

Katz reiterated his warning to Hamas, saying, “If Hamas terrorists do not lay down their arms and release all the hostages – they will be destroyed and Gaza will be ruined.” 

On Monday evening, Netanyahu reported that the military had destroyed 50 high-rise buildings in Gaza. 

“I am here at the Air Force command center,” Netanyahu said in the video statement. “A few days ago I promised you that we would bring down the terrorist high-rises in Gaza. This is exactly what we are doing. In the last two days, 50 such high-rises have fallen; the Air Force took them down.” 

PM Netanyahu at the Air Force Command Center:
"In the last two days, we have taken down 50 terrorist high-rises, and this is only the beginning of the ground operation in Gaza City. I say to the residents of Gaza: You have been warned; Get out of there!"https://t.co/Pf3f9QljWP pic.twitter.com/II5cx1DmnT

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 8, 2025

He warned that these actions are “only the beginning,” calling on all residents to immediately evacuate. 

“Now, all of this is only the introduction, only the beginning of the main intensive operation – the ground incursion of our forces, that are now getting organized and gathering, into Gaza City,” Netanyahu warned.

“Therefore, I am taking this opportunity to say to the residents of Gaza, listen to me carefully: You have been warned; Get out of there!” 

As Hamas appears to be backtracking from its previous positive statements regarding the latest U.S. proposal for a ceasefire, Israel is intensifying its military activities to demonstrate its willingness to proceed with Operation Gideon’s Chariots II and the full takeover of the rest of the Gaza Strip.