Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak wants to evacuate Palestinian neighbourhoods in the northern Gaza Strip from where militants are launching rockets at southern Israel, Israel Channel 2 television reported Wednesday evening. ( dpa )
He has approached legal advisers to check the legality of such a move, the channel said, adding the plan would involve forcing "thousands" of Palestinians to move further south in the Strip, away from its northern border with Israel.
He may do so by distributing pamphlets warning them to move and that their neighbourhoods from where the rockets are being fired will be shelled, the channel said.
Israel has tried a series of measures to end the daily rocket attacks from Gaza, including airstrikes, ground incursions and economic sanctions, which have thus far failed to end the attacks.
The international community has condemned part of the sanctions as "collective punishment" and a violation of international law.