GAZA CITY, Palestine

The Israeli army on Friday warned residents of the eastern areas of the city of Khan Yunis to evacuate to the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli aircrafts dropped leaflets on Friday on the eastern towns of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.

“To the residents of the towns of Al-Qarara, Khuza’a, Abasan, and Bani Suhaila, you must evacuate immediately and go to shelters in the Rafah area,” the Israeli leaflets read.

“The city of Khan Yunis is a dangerous combat zone,” the statement added.

The warning came despite the Israeli army intensifying its air and artillery strikes on Rafah immediately after the temporary humanitarian pause in Gaza ended on Friday morning.

At least 32 Palestinians were killed and several others injured as the Israel resumed striking various areas in the Gaza Strip within three hours following the end of pause, the Health Ministry in Gaza said.

About two weeks ago, the Israeli army asked the residents of the areas east of Khan Yunis to evacuate and began limited ground incursions there.

Last week, the Israeli army also sent text messages to the phones of a large number of city residents, which read: “A call to the people of Khan Yunis. The Israeli Defense Forces knows that in your area there are kidnapped persons whom you have hidden.

“Know that the Israeli Defense Forces will prosecute every person who has detained or is holding kidnapped persons.”

A large number of Israeli military vehicles are stationed on the outskirts of Khan Yunis.

The pause between Israel and Hamas, which went into effect on Nov. 24, ended on Friday morning.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi