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Israel divides Gaza Strip into 2,375 blocks in 2nd phase of Israel-Palestine war

KUALA LUMPUR: Israel has adopted a new strategy by dividing the Gaza Strip into 2,375 smaller blocks for the second phase of the Israel-Palestine war that began on Friday.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), on their website, published a "safe zone relocation map" in Arabic, urging Gaza residents to be aware of their respective block areas.

The map shows the Gaza Strip divided into several block areas, each marked with a specific number, totaling up to 2,375.

According to the IDF, the map enables Gaza residents to familiarise themselves with the areas, understand directives, and relocate from specific areas for their safety.

The joint statement with the map was circulated on social networks, including SMS messages to residents residing in numbered areas since the ceasefire ended on Friday.

A resident and content creator known as Abomoaaz said the division of areas was merely an Israeli ploy to legitimise mass killings in Gaza.

"This will be used as an excuse for mass killings because guided missile bullets are used as a warning message before destroying people's homes.

"It appears that in this second phase of the war, they are employing more professional methods.

"This is because the world rejects Israel's indiscriminate killings, so this map is their 'tool' for planned killings," he said via an Instagram story.

Media practitioner Plestia Alaqad said the relocation was impossible as the residents had no direction since all places in Gaza were no longer safe.

"The Gaza Strip has been divided into three parts – the north, the Deir Al-Balah area in the centre, and Khan Younis and Rafah in the south.

"Relocation is nearly impossible because there is nowhere safe, leaving the public unsure of where to go," she said in her Instagram post this morning.

Currently, it is estimated that over 800,000 residents in the northern region and Gaza City refused to relocate despite being besieged and continuously attacked by Israel since Oct 7.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said residents in the affected areas were now struggling to sustain themselves without food supplies and medical access.

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