The Israeli military dropped leaflets Saturday urging residents in the western areas to evacuate as the Gaza Civil Defense Agency reported continued airstrikes. “The Israeli army is operating with very intense force in your area and is determined to destroy and defeat Hamas,” the leaflet said. “For your safety, evacuate immediately via Al-Rashid Street south of Wadi Gaza. You have been warned.”

The Israeli military also said Saturday that more than 250,000 people have fled Gaza City and moved to other parts of the territory in the past few weeks, as it stepped up its attacks on Gaza’s largest urban center, army spokesman Col. Avichai Adraee told X Network in Arabic.

The UN estimates that about 1 million Palestinians live in and around Gaza City. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing many areas mean that AFP has been unable to independently verify details provided by the military or casualty figures reported by the Palestinian Civil Defense Agency.

Israel has come under increasing international pressure to halt its offensive, but says it is determined to crush Hamas in what it describes as one of the group's last strongholds. In recent weeks, the military has mostly targeted high-rise buildings, saying they were being used by Hamas fighters. The United Nations and members of the international community have warned against the military offensive for fear it would worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza City, where the UN has declared a famine.

The Israeli strikes have killed five people since dawn on Saturday, according to the Civil Defense Agency. At least 50 people were killed in the territory on Friday, the Civil Defense Agency said. "Every night we go to bed not knowing if we will wake up alive. The bombings around us never stop... We stayed home because there is nowhere else to go... This is not life. Death would be easier than this," Gaza City resident Umm Anas al-Ashkar told AFP. | BGNES, AFP