Israeli Tanks Block Main Road To Gaza City

JAKARTA - Israeli tanks blocked the main road to Gaza City on Thursday, preventing those who had fled the trapped city from returning.

Israeli Defense Minister Katz said this was the last chance for hundreds of thousands of people still inside to escape.

Israel has ordered the entire population of Gaza City of one million people to move south in line with one of the biggest attacks in this month's war.

Israel has pledged to eradicate Hamas fighters in what it calls their last stronghold in Gaza's largest urban area.

Residents told Reuters tanks had installed sand barriers on the main road south of Gaza City. Residents are allowed out, but those who go for food or shelter are no longer allowed to return.

"This is the last chance for Gazans who want to move south and leave Hamas members isolated in Gaza's own city in the face of continued full-scale IDF operations," Israeli Defense Minister Katz said.

Those leaving will undergo military investigations, Katz said.

The military previously said it had started operations to strengthen and maintain "operational control of the Netzarim Corridor", an area it controls that separates northern and southern Gaza. The military did not respond to further requests for comment on Thursday.

The United Nations (UN) estimates 600,000-700,000 people are still in Gaza City, after about 400,000 people have taken refuge in recent weeks as Israeli forces move forward and destroy buildings blocking their way.

Several residents contacted by Reuters said the move to prevent people from returning to Gaza City had strengthened their determination to stay.

"We will not leave. Yesterday an unmanned plane dropped a grenade on the roof of our building, but we will not leave," said 24-year-old Hani, who lives in Gaza City, who asked to be identified only by his first name for security reasons.

"We are worried that if we leave, we will never see our Gaza City again," he said.

Israeli planes and tanks continue to attack Gaza City. Gaza's Ministry of Health said Israeli gunfire killed 77 people in the past 24 hours.

Medics said one of Thursday's attacks killed nine people, including five people from one family, near a public kitchen in Al-Mawasi, the southern coastal region that Israel has designated as a "humanitarian zone" for hundreds of thousands of residents forced to flee from other parts of Gaza.