For the First Time.. Evacuation Orders in Areas Belonging to Deir al-Balah

SadaNews - The spokesperson for the Israeli army issued new evacuation orders for residents of areas in southwest Deir al-Balah, which have not been implemented before, asking them to head south to the Mawasi area.

The Israeli army radio commented: "This is a highly significant development. Israel is putting a threat of a ground incursion into Deir al-Balah on the table, through the evacuation statement issued by the Israeli army spokesperson."

It continued: "As is known, during the recent prisoner exchange deal, a number of prisoners from Deir al-Balah were released, and it was clear that the area remained unchanged, with buildings still standing, as no ground incursions had taken place in this area, and even the airstrikes that targeted it since the beginning of the war have been relatively few."

Meanwhile, Kan Hebrew Channel reported that "the Israeli army has not yet operated in the Middle Camp and Deir al-Balah area for fear of the presence of prisoners in the area. After the army controlled 75% of the sector, there is almost no room for maneuver without approaching the sites of the prisoners."

It continued: In the recent releases from Gaza, some prisoners from Deir al-Balah were freed, and through the documentation we saw from there – the buildings appeared to be still standing and intact."

It concluded: "This is likely part of the dynamics of negotiations concerning the release of prisoners and reaching a ceasefire."