The Israeli army revealed details about a map published for evacuating residents of the Gaza Strip, including the meaning of the numbers on it. The spokesperson for the Israeli army in Arab media, Avichai Adraee, explained that the numbers on the map represent residential neighborhoods, and residents of a specific neighborhood may be ordered to evacuate to another neighborhood based on the requirements of the "upcoming phases" of the war. He stated that each number refers to a neighborhood known to its residents, emphasizing that the aim is to prevent evacuation from distant areas, ensuring that displacement is from one neighborhood to another for temporary periods.
He pointed out that "Israel is not asking the residents of Gaza to leave the territory, but to evacuate areas where military operations are taking place, and evacuations from combat zones are intended to differentiate between civilians and armed individuals." He continued: "There are examples of our evacuation requests, such as what occurred in northern Gaza and at Al-Shifa Hospital, where Hamas is present in civilian locations like schools, hospitals, and mosques."
He added, "We seek to dismantle Hamas's infrastructure, and we need to reach those locations and areas where its infrastructure is hidden." The "block map" was published on the Israeli army's website.
According to an explanation on the Israeli Ministry of Defense website: "Dear residents of Gaza! Please pay attention and carefully check this map. Anyone who sees the block number they live in or are near should follow and adhere to the instructions of the Defense Forces through various media outlets. Residents of Gaza! This is a safe way to ensure your security, lives, and the lives of your families."
Furthermore, it stated: "Since the onset of the war in Gaza against the Hamas organization, which uses the residents of the territory as human shields by embedding its facilities and military infrastructure in their housing, hospitals, mosques, and schools, converting civilian sites into military objectives, contrary to international law regarding the rules of war that clearly stipulates not using civilians as human shields. The Defense Forces take all possible precautions to avoid causing loss of civilian life or injury, relying on all available means, and therefore always directs messages to the residents of Gaza, asking them to evacuate targeted areas that are objectives for military activities, and guiding them through all possible means, including publishing a map containing a list of numbered blocks as a reliable notification for Gaza residents to avoid harm and protect their lives. In the published map, the block numbers in Gaza are displayed, with a clear call: please pay attention and carefully check this map."
