ALBAWABA - The Israeli army estimated that about 200,000 residents of Gaza City, or about 20 percent of those who remained there since the beginning of the Israeli war of extermination, will refuse to leave despite the military operation to occupy the city.
According to the Israeli media, Operation "Gideon Arms 2" was announced by the Israeli army to control Gaza City as part of a bigger plan to take over the Gaza Strip. However, the army believes that 20 percent of Gaza City residents will stay in the combat zone even if their lives are in danger.
Two days ago, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, Eyal Zamir, announced the start of the ground operation in the city as part of a plan to seize control of it. So far, approximately 70,000 people have been forced to leave, according to a report by the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz on Thursday.
Israeli soldiers have not yet entered the city center and its densely populated neighborhoods, and are operating primarily on the outskirts. Israeli military officials say that the forces' advance will be determined by the pace of the city's residents' evacuation toward the southern Gaza Strip.
