IDF issues warnings to the civilians of Gaza

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IDF issues warnings to the civilians of Gaza

7 Jan 2009The IDF warnings are aimed at reducing the risk of injury to uninvolved civilians by prior announcement of the IDF's intent to attack, instructing residents to evacuate the areas where terrorists or terror infrastructure are to be found. Leaflet: IDF warns residents of GazaOn the basis of the principle that the IDF has no quarrel with Gaza's civilian population who are being used as a human shield by the Hamas terrorists, the IDF has been transmitting announcements and warnings to the residents of the Gaza Strip. These announcements are aimed at reducing the risk of injury to uninvolved civilians by prior announcement of the IDF's intent to attack, instructing residents to evacuate the areas where terrorists or terror infrastructure are to be found.
To make sure these warnings reach the residents, the IDF has used different measures: dropping leaflets, making phone calls, and commandeering local radio and TV stations.
The main messages include:

• Calls to evacuate buildings where weapons are stored and/or where tunnels have been dug (since December 27)
• Instructions to move to the center of towns (as of January 3)
• Instructions to residents to listen to IDF advisories and avoid interaction with terrorist elements

These messages were conveyed by several means:
1. Dropping leaflets:

• On December 28, 300,000 leaflets were dropped throughout the entire Gaza Strip
• On December 29, 80,000 leaflets were dropped in Rafah
• On January 3, 300,000 leaflets were dropped in the entire Gaza Strip, especially in the northern and eastern parts
• On January 5, 300,000 leaflets were droopped in Gaza City, Khan Yunis and Rafah.

Leaflet (December 28, 2008):

الى سكان قطاع غزة
جيش الدفاع الاسرائيلي يعمل ضد الحركات والعناصر الذين يقومون باعمال ارهابية ضد مواطني دولة اسرائيل.
جيش الدفاع الاسرائيلي سيضرب ويدمر كل مبنى وموقع يوجد فيه ذخيرة وعتاد عسكري.
ابتداء من نشر هذا البيان, كل من توجد ذخيرة وعتاد عسكري في بيته فهو معرض للخطر وعليه مغادرة المكان كي يحافظ على حياته وحياة اسرته.
وقد اعذر من انذر.
قيادة جيش الدفاع الإسرائيلي

Translation:
To the residents of the Gaza Strip
The IDF will act against any movements and elements conducting terrorist activities against the residents of the State of Israel.
The IDF will hit and destroy any building or site containing ammunition and weapons.
As of the publication of this announcement, anyone having ammunition and/or weapons in his home is risking his life and must leave the place for the safety of his own life and that of his family.
You have been warned.
IDF Command

2. Phone calls

• On December 27, around 20,000 phone calls were made throuthout the entire Gaza Strip
• On December 29, around 10,000 phone calls were made to the residents of Rafah

Phone Message (December 27, 2008)
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The IDF will hit and destroy any site or building containing ammunition or weapons.
As of the publication of this announcement, the life of anyone in whose home ammunition and weapons are to be found is in danger, and he must leave the place for the sake of his own safety and that of his family.

IDF Command

3. Breaking into local radio transmissions
(Radio Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Radio and Radio PFLP)
a. Specific local announcements
Radio Announcement (December 29, 2008)
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To the residents of Rafah:
A military announcement -
The IDF will act against any organizations and elements carrying out terrorist activities against the residents of the State of Israel.
The IDF will hit and destroy any building or site containing ammunition, weapons or tunnels.
As of the issuing of this announcement, anyone having ammunition and/or weapons or a tunnel in his home is risking his life and must leave the place for his own safety and that of his family.
You have been warned.

IDF Command

Radio Announcement (January 3, 2009)
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Military announcement
To all residents of the area
For your own safety, you are required to leave your homes immediately and move to the city centers.

IDF Command

b. Daily news bulletins (since December 27)

News Bulletin - Breakin into regular radio transmissions (January 3, 2009)
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Following are the main news items regarding the latest events in the Gaza Strip:

• Israel is continuing its operations in the Gaza Strip according to plan.
• Israel strongly reiterates that it is taking strong measures against Hamas operatives only, and does not wish to harm the civilian population.
• IDF troops have so far killed scores of active Hamas terrorists.
• Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip are continuing to use the local population as a human shield and to fire from places where civilians reside, while they themselves hide and put the population in danger.
• As part of the Hamas attempts to conceal the truth, Hamas spokesman Ihab al-Ghusain announced from his hiding place that the Gaza television station El-Arabia has been closed down.
• Official sources in the Arab world have voiced their criticism of senior Hamas leaders in Gaza for totally forsaking the residents of Gaza Strip and looking out only for themselves and their nearest.
• Gaza residents are welcome to receive food and medical supplies, delivered via the Rafah, Karni and Kerem Shalom passages, at the UNRWA centers throughout the Gaza Strip.
• Israel calls on the population, for its own safety, to move to city centers.

Listen for further instructions from the IDF Command, heed instructions from IDF troops, and avoid staying in areas occupied by Hamas terrorist elements.
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government...7-Jan-2009.htm