JERUSALEM (AP) – Israel has called on residents of the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate their homes, suggesting a coming attack after its troops earlier launched a brief raid.
The Israeli air force dropped leaflets Sunday morning calling for the evacuation. Israel’s military spokesman says troops will begin a “short and temporary” campaign against northern Gaza sometime after 12 p.m. (0900 GMT) Sunday.
The call comes after Israeli troops launched a brief raid early Sunday morning into northern Gaza to destroy what it described as a rocket-launching site. The military said four soldiers were slightly wounded in the operation.
More than 160 Palestinians have been killed in the six-day offensive. Militants in Gaza have fired some 700 rockets in Israel during that time, though there have been no fatalities there.