ISTANBUL

The Israeli army has targeted areas it declared safe for civilians to gather in, media reports and witnesses said Thursday, as it continued its bombardment of Gaza.

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee on Oct. 8 made a call on the X social media platform for residents to evacuate due to the activities of the Palestinian Hamas group in residential zones, which, he claimed, were putting them in a difficult position.

Following the heavy bombardment in Gaza, some civilians moved to four locations announced by the Israeli military, believing it would protect them from the attacks.

These included the city center, shelters in central Gaza, Khan Younis city center and shelters in the center of Rafah.

But the Israeli army still bombed these locations.

In recent airstrikes, the Gaza city center and Jabalia and al-Shati refugee camps along with the Sheikh Radwan and al-Rimal neighborhood as well as the Kerem Shalom area were also targeted.

In an effort to obstruct the flow of international aid into Gaza, the Israeli military also struck the Rafah crossing, the Palestinian enclave's only crossing with the outside world, and the Nuseirat refugee camp.

In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began on Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.

*Writing by Esra Tekin