Israel urged Palestinians to leave several areas of Gaza City as its military campaign in the enclave escalated.

Col. Avichay Adraee, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for Arabic Media, issued a caution to Palestinians residing in areas targeted by Israel. The warning featured a map pinpointing a specific building, explaining that a strike was imminent “due to the presence of Hamas terrorist infrastructure inside or nearby” the location.

“For your safety, you are required to immediately evacuate the area southward to the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, Khan Yunis,” Adraee said.

The warning from Adraee comes as the IDF expands its ground operations in Gaza City as part of what it calls Operation Gideon’s Chariots II.

Israel quickly faced criticism after announcing its intentions to broaden operations into Gaza City last month. Although Jerusalem’s approach to the war since October 2023 has drawn international disapproval, the decision to focus on Gaza City intensified the backlash.

“The decision by the Israeli government to further intensify its campaign in Gaza is a mistake, and we strongly urge reconsideration,” stated U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in August following the announcement. “Such actions will not facilitate the conflict’s resolution or aid in the hostages’ release. Instead, it will lead to additional bloodshed.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, a vocal critic of Israel, also condemned the August announcement.

“This escalation will neither resolve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza nor alleviate the worsening plight of both Israeli hostages and Palestinian civilians,” Carney remarked in a statement. He further claimed that the action would push peace prospects even further away for Israelis.

France, which intends to acknowledge a Palestinian state this month at the United Nations, likewise expressed its disapproval of Israel’s expanded operations in Gaza. It participated in a statement alongside Slovenian U.N. Ambassador Samuel Žbogar. 

The statement was issued on behalf of Slovenia, Denmark, France, Greece and the United Kingdom. The nations said Israel’s plans violated international law and urged Jerusalem to “reverse this decision and not to implement it.”