ISRAEL TO ATTACK GAZA CITY ‘SOON’

THE head spokesman for the Israeli military has repeated calls for citizens in Gaza to evacuate to the south as he said an attack on Gaza City would come “soon.”

“It’s for your personal safety,” said Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari in a nationally broadcast address.

He did not say exactly when the operation would start.

Gaza City has already been pummelled by Israeli airstrikes in the past week, with a Gazan health ministry official earlier describing it as “a frightening scene of devastation”.

Rear Adm Hagari also accused Hamas of trying to use civilians as “human shields”.

His comments come after the Israeli military claimed it had proof the militant group had formed a roadblock on a central route preventing people from fleeing to the south.

Sirens have been sounding in several areas of Israel in the past few moments warning of possible rocket attacks.

The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said the alarms could be heard in Tel Aviv, as well as the coastal city of Ashkelon, Lakhish and in the area surrounding Gaza.

Israel has been moving more soldiers and military vehicles towards the border with Gaza in southern Israel as its “significant” ground operation looms.

The Israeli military has been readying itself for a major offensive after a surprise attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas last week killed and injured hundreds of Israelis and saw dozens more taken hostage.

The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said Hamas is obstructing the safe passage of citizens to southern Gaza. It said the militant group has put up a roadblock on a central route.

The IDF also posted the images below, which it claims shows the Hamas roadblock and traffic queues in the area.

The official account for the Israeli government also posted the images to X, formerly Twitter, saying: “Hamas prides itself on putting civilians in harms way.”

A trustee of a charity providing aid to Palestinians said he is worried about its staff in Gaza as an Israeli ground offensive looms.

Richard Makepeace told Sky News the charity is in touch with some workers there, but not all. Those who have been able to make contact say conditions are “desperate”, he said.

“The last I heard, patients are piling up inside hospitals. There isn’t space in intensive care. There isn’t space in terms of hospital beds.” Makepeace said it will be “impossible” for hospitals and other medical facilities to evacuate patients to the south due to destroyed roads. “There are patients who can’t move. There are babies in incubators, patients in intensive care units. “I think (it is) very questionable whether this is actually in order in terms of the rules of war and international humanitarian standards.”

Meanwhile, seven  people have been arrested during the pro-Palestine demonstrations in central London.

The Met Police said four of the arrests were for breaches of an order which gives officers the power to demand face coverings are removed.

There were also two public order offences and a case of criminal damage, the force said. A “significant policing operation” was still active in the capital as of 6pm.

Israeli soldiers readied their tanks in a dusty patch of countryside close to Gaza. Under a large tree, more troops gathered, armed and ready for combat.

The mood seemed relaxed – a calm perhaps before any potential order to push forward. These servicemen know such a move would come at huge personal risk – urban warfare on the streets of Gaza against Hamas militants who will have been preparing as well.

Yet, one soldier signalled that fury at the brutality of last week’s terror attack by Hamas – against families across this rural stretch of southern Israel – helped to stir his nerve.

“We are very motivated,” he said, a rifle hanging over his shoulder. Troops are preparing for combat – but Israelis are still reeling from last Saturday’s attack The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has released a statement stating it is preparing to “implement a wide range of operational offensive plans” – without saying when these would take place.

The plans may include “combined and coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land”, it said. It added that equipment required for combat has been “transferred to the relevant forces” in recent days. “IDF battalions and soldiers are deployed across the country and are increasing operational readiness for the next stages of the war, with an emphasis on significant ground operations,” the statement read. Sky News