The Israeli military has issued new evacuation orders for Palestinians in northern Gaza, as Gaza City braces for a possible ground operation. Photo: Al Jazeera

On Wednesday, army spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted the evacuation orders for several districts in Beit Hanoon and Beit Lahiya, areas that were among the most affected by Israel’s ground invasion at the onset of the war 10 months ago.

In a message sent to Palestinian residents, he said that Hamas and other groups were “firing rockets from your area” towards Israel and that the military “will act forcefully and immediately against them”.

“For your own safety, evacuate immediately to the known shelters in the centre of Gaza City,” the army spokesman said.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the army was preparing for a “large-scale” ground operation in Gaza City, where an Israeli air raid on a house killed three Palestinians on Wednesday, according to medical sources.

Al Jazeera correspondents reported at least two other people were killed in air raids in the city. One of the victims was found in Gaza City’s Daraj neighbourhood while another was recovered in the Zeitoun area.

Overnight Israeli attacks also destroyed two homes and tents sheltering displaced people in central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah, killing three people and wounding 10.

Palestinians who had moved to the area after Israeli forces said it was a designated “safe zone”, are now forced to pick up their lives again.

“Most of the people here have been displaced numerous times – from Rafah, Khan Younis and central Gaza – now they’re all crammed into Deir el-Balah,” one resident told Al Jazeera.

“The Israelis claim it is a safe zone. Why are they shelling the area now? This is all false propaganda.”