IDF Warns Civilians To Evacuate Gaza City Amid Prospect Of Major Op.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have dropped leaflets on Palestinian civilians in Gaza City warning them to evacuate to the south amid the expectation of a major military operation in the city. Areas of northern and central Gaza, including Gaza City, have faced intense aerial barrages over the past two days, with The Guardian reporting"Residents of Gaza City reported helicopter strikes, explosions and gun battles as Israel expanded its two-week-old offensive in Shuja’iya, an eastern neighbourhood, moving tanks into areas of the city where Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters have regrouped."

• Earlier today, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant claimed that '60%' of Hamas fighters had been killed or wounded during the course of the conflict so far. He added that ""international legitimacy" is a significant contiditon for continuing the war.
• The escalation of operations comes as negotiations in Qatar, aimed at reaching an agreement on the implementation of the first phase of a ceasefire-for-hostages dealm continue today. As noted in MNI's bullet on 9 July (see 'SECURITY: Mixed Signals From Gaza Ceasefire Talks' 1717BST), an unnamed US official said that at talks in the Egyptian capital Cairo "progress has been made".
• However, the Times of Israel also notes "In a more cautious assessment, a senior Israeli source was quoted by Channel 12 news Tuesday night as saying that “Egyptian reports of progress are premature,” and cautioning that “difficult and complex negotiations are expected.”The unnamed source also noted that “there are still unresolved issues to deal with that are not simple.”