ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR: NEW FEAR

NOW FLEE FROM THE SOUTH...

- ANDY LINES

ISRAEL last night dropped thousands of leaflets into southern Gaza warning residents to evacuate their homes and head to shelters.

The move signals a possible expansion of Israel's offensive to areas where hundreds of thousands of evacuees who heeded earlier orders are crowded into UN-run shelters and family homes.

The leaflets warned people to find safety in Bani Shuhaila, Khuzaa, Abassan and Qarara - towns that were home to over 100,000 before the south was overwhelmed with displaced Palestinians.

They read: "For your safety, evacuate your places of residence immediately and head to known shelters.

"Anyone near terrorists or their facilities puts their life at risk. Every house used by terrorists will be targeted." Last month similar leaflets were dropped over northern Gaza ahead of the Israeli ground offensive.