Hamas is preparing for the IDF’s entry into Gaza City by threatening Gazans in the area and ordering its fighters to block exit routes.
That’s according to my Channel 12 colleague Nitzan Shapira, who added that following yesterday’s strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Hamas “has further recognized that it can exploit the IDF’s attempts to avoid civilian casualties to its own advantage—and increase its cynical exploitation of the civilian population.”
It’s too early to tell how successful Hamas will be in its attempts to keep civilians in harm’s way, but the significance of such a move should not be dismissed.
As you read this, the IDF is preparing to move into Gaza City without harming the hostages believed to be held there, trying to evacuate 800,000 to one million citizens from the area beforehand, and now dealing with Hamas’ attempts to prevent those civilians from leaving.