For 1st time in 3 weeks, 2 rockets fired from southern Gaza at southern Israel, as IDF continues preparations for Gaza City takeover

For the first time in about three weeks, terror operatives launched rockets from the Gaza Strip towards southern Israel, early on Sunday morning. 

As a result of the launches, air raid sirens sounded in the southern communities of Netivot, Zimrat, Tkuma, Shuva, Kfar Maimon, and Sa’ad. 

Shortly after the sirens sounded, the IDF announced that two rockets had been fired from the central Gaza Strip, with one rocket intercepted, while the other fell in an open area. 

The terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad later claimed responsibility for the launches, announcing on its Telegram channel that it had targeted the city of Netivot. The launches were the first rockets launched towards Israel from the Gaza Strip since Aug. 10, when Hamas operatives also launched two rockets towards the same areas. 

Israel Air Force fighter jets struck a rocket-launching complex in the Shejaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City shortly afterwards. 

The launches come as the IDF is increasing its activities in the Gaza City area, releasing thousands of leaflets calling on Gaza City residents to evacuate ahead of the ground incursion into the city, which could start within the next few days. 

On Saturday, Palestinian social media accounts posted videos of leaflets dropped by the IDF, calling on residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the humanitarian zones in the southern Strip. 

They’re dropping evacuation leaflets on us right now in the middle of Gaza City!!!
Where the hell are we even supposed to go? pic.twitter.com/2Q6Pm4gq36

— Ayah𓂆 (@Ayahgaza0) September 6, 2025

Israeli media reported last Thursday that around 80,000 residents had already fled the city ahead of the IDF’s entry as part of Operation Gideon's Chariots II, while several hundred thousand are thought to still remain.

The 1st 'genocide' in history where the population ruled by terrorists, gets millions of leaflets & phone calls directing them to *evacuate for their safety* to a brand new humanitarian zone.

A humanitarian zone where field hospitals, water pipelines, desalination facilities, as… pic.twitter.com/PlHDVf5JQ3

— Ron M. (@Jewtastic) September 6, 2025

On Thursday, a military source told Walla News that the IDF already controls about 40% of Gaza City, ahead of the full-scale incursion. 

The defense establishment is preparing for the conquest of Gaza City in other ways as well. A report in Walla News said that 100,000 tents are being brought into the southern Gaza Strip humanitarian zones, including a new zone being prepared in Khan Younis. 

A security source told Walla that the tents are being supplied by the United Nations and international organizations, not purchased by the Israeli government. 

“These are donations from international organizations and the United Nations,” the source explained. “We estimate that some of the population will not come with their tent from Gaza [City]. We already see that a person or a family that decides to evacuate, packs the equipment and the tent, moves with them and rebuilds the tent. Still, we want to bring in a very large number of tents in order to enable the population to move to a safer area.” 

The IDF is also preparing for the possibility of disease outbreaks by bringing vaccines and preparing to expand the medical response in the humanitarian areas in southern Gaza. 

However, the source told Walla News that the focus on the southern Strip does not mean the IDF will cease aid to the northern Strip. 

“We will necessarily create a kind of humanitarian priority for aid to the south in order to attract the population, but that doesn't mean that aid won't continue to enter the north in the early stages, as long as there is a population in the north,” the source said. 

Meanwhile, after the IDF struck a high-rise building used by Hamas for observation and intelligence gathering, the IDF is threatening to bring down additional towers. 

At the same time, Palestinian social media accounts affiliated with Hamas have been posting messages over the past couple days imploring the residents of Gaza City not to evacuate. 

A state of panic in Hamas,since Israel announced the creation of a new humanitarian zone west of Kh.Yunis. Hamas's internal front issued four statements in less than an hour, the main message being: "Do not leave Gaza City, for you are the shield that protects the homeland!" pic.twitter.com/yJEhnHJv3c

— Ph.Gritti (@Philipp27960841) September 6, 2025

In particular, the Telegram channel “Al Jabha Gaza,” which is believed to be operated by Hamas, posted a series of messages on Saturday glorifying those who chose to remain in the city despite the evacuation notices. 

“Steadfastness is salvation,” one of the messages read. “Know that holding on to your homes is your first shield, and withdrawing from them is a free gift to the occupier.” 

“Every home inhabited by men, women, and children means that the city remains, and that attempts at displacement are being crushed,” it continued. “Those who leave, leave a vacuum for the enemy, and those who remain block their path.” 

Last week, the IDF released audio from a phone conversation with a resident of Gaza City who claimed that Hamas is attempting to prevent people from leaving the city for the humanitarian zones in the southern Strip.