Israel warns Gaza Residents to Evacuate or Suffer Disaster

A leaflet air-dropped by Israeli forces warning residents to evacuate

According to BBC News, Israel has urged thousands of Palestinians in eastern and northern Gaza to leave their homes as the Israeli Army will continue air strikes - despite Egypt's intervention.

Reports claim there was an Egyptian truce initiative on Tuesday - but it has failed to halt rocket attacks on Israel by Hamas militants and other groups.
And Israel, which had its first fatality on Tuesday, said senior Hamas militants had died in strikes on Gaza overnight.

Palestinian officials say at least 207 people have died in Israeli air raids, including 10 overnight into Wednesday; with a five-month-old baby reportedly killed.

An Israeli man was killed by a mortar shell fired from Gaza near the northern border with Israel.

Israel had launched its Operation Protective Edge on 8 July. Its stated objective is to halt Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel.

However, the United Nations says the majority of those killed in Gaza have been civilians; and hence, it urges Israel to promote calmness by ceasing fire.