and stages brief ground incursions
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinians are scrambling to flee northern Gaza after Israel’s military told about 1 million people to leave for the southern part of the besieged territory. Israel carried out some limited ground operations ahead of an expected wider land offensive against Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers following their attack into southern Israel a week ago. The unprecedented evacuation order applies to almost half of Gaza’s population, including everyone in Gaza City. Israel renewed calls on social media and in leaflets dropped from the air for some 1 million people to relocate on Saturday. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes. The U.N. and aid groups had said such a rapid exodus would cause untold human suffering.