Jump directly to the content

THIS is the horrifying moment a car explodes while travelling along a "safe" route out of Gaza.

The shocking footage shows vehicles travelling in convoy along Salah al-Din Road after Israel's evacuation order to 1.1million Gazans.

A video of the car explosion has been shared online
3
A video of the car explosion has been shared online

It comes as Israel is preparing to launch a "co-ordinated" invasion, after telling people to flee the besieged region.

A caption on the clip, translated from Arabic, says: "The occupation asks civilians to emigrate.

"During the displacement process, they are directly targeted!!!"

Two roads had been designated as safe passage exit routes - one was the Salah al-Din Road highway, the other a coastal path west of there.

Read More On Israel and Gaza

There have been competing claims about what might have sparked the explosion.

Some suggested a projectile landed on the vehicle but others disputed this, reported.

Special forces units yesterday spearheaded the first ground offensive against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

And Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier today warned the "next stage is coming" as his military prepare their next action.

A deadline passed for the bomb-blitzed city's residents to flee ahead of Israel's expected full-scale ground invasion.

Meanwhile, a plot to target British buildings linked to Israel has been uncovered.

Tonight the Israeli military said forces were preparing a wide range of operational offensive plans towards Gaza, a week after Hamas gunmen launched their devastating attack on Israel.

Military chiefs told of "an emphasis on significant ground operations".

Netanyahu this afternoon visited the Gaza border, where he asked soldiers: "You ready for the next stage?"

After troops nodded, he added: "The next stage is coming."

Israel warned people living in the north of the Gaza Strip on Friday to leave their homes ahead of an "imminent attack".

The United Nations said thousands of people had since fled south after the start of the 24-hour countdown.

The Israeli Defence Force today revealed they were extending the deadline for Palestinians to move, while also telling of killing two senior Hamas commanders.

An IDF spokesperson said: "I would like to inform you that the IDF will allow movement on the indicated streets without any harm between the hours of 10:00-16:00."

Murad Abu Murad, head of Hamas's aerial operations in Gaza, was reportedly killed in an air strike.

The IDF then announced Ali Qadhi, a leading commander who had led the cross-border attack on Israel, also died in a drone attack.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

The 37-year-old senior Hamas leader had been released from an Israeli jail in 2011 as part of a prisoner swap deal, the IDF said.

The latest conflict between Israel and Hamas has killed at least 3,500 people on both sides.

Cars were departing after Israel's order for people to leave Gaza
3
Cars were departing after Israel's order for people to leave GazaCredit: Twitter
The cause of the explosion has not been confirmed
3
The cause of the explosion has not been confirmedCredit: Twitter
Topics