Palestinians in the southern Gazan city of Rafah voiced despair as Israel dropped fliers urging them to evacuate for their own “safety” ahead of a “limited” military operation, AFP reports.

Israel’s army said it was instructing Palestinian families in eastern Rafah to flee in preparation for an expected ground assault on the city, which abuts Gaza’s border with Egypt.

Residents of Rafah described emerging outside after a terrifying night in which around a dozen air strikes were carried out on the city, to find fliers falling from the sky telling them to “evacuate immediately”.

“The army is working with intensive power against the terrorist forces near you,” read a flier circulated in eastern Rafah.

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