Israel bombarded Gaza on Friday, hitting areas in the south where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and it began evacuating a sizeable Israeli town.
Israel s defense minister said Friday that after the country destroys the Hamas militant group, the military does not plan to control life in the Gaza Strip. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant s comments to lawmakers were the first time an Israeli leader discussed its long-term plans for Gaza.
Israeli airstrikes are hitting southern Gaza, an area swelled by civilians who fled there from the north on Israeli instructions. Meanwhile, Israel began evacuating a sizable town near the Lebanese