The Israeli military says it is evacuating civilians from towns adjacent to the border with the Gaza Strip at this stage.

The towns include Nahal Oz, Erez, Nir Am, Mefalsim, Kfar Aza, Gevim, Or Haner, Ibim, Netiv Ha’asara, Yad Mordechai, Karmia, Zikim, Kerem Shalom, Kissufim, Holit, Sufa, Nirim, Nir Oz, Ein Hashlosha, Nir Yitzhak, Be’eri, Magen, Re’im, Sa’ad and Alumim.

“Further evacuations will be carried out according to the assessment of the situation,” the IDF says.

“Our mission for the upcoming 24 hours is to evacuate all residents living around Gaza,” military spokesman Daniel Hagari tells reporters.

He says the evacuation could be carried out only after a proper “scan of the territory” to ensure that no terrorists were present.

“There are tens of thousands of combat soldiers in the area. We’ll reach each and every community till we kill every terrorist in Israel,” Hagari says.

timesofisrael.com