The IDF on Thursday provided audio evidence Hamas is forcibly preventing Palestinians from heeding Israeli orders to evacuate to the south of the Gaza Strip.

The recording features an officer in the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate's Unit 504 and a Gazan civilian speaking about the latter's attempt to temporarily relocate from the northern part of the Strip ahead of an expected major Israel ground operation intended to destroy the Hamas terrorist organization.

In the call, the IDF officer tells Muhammad (the only name provided) that to "ensure your personal safety, I'm asking you to urgently go towards Khan Younis" in the south.

The Gazan says in response that "all the roads are blocked."

When asked if Hamas is blocking the roads, he answers in the affirmative, saying Hamas was preventing passage south through Salah al-Din Road, the main north-south highway running through the Gaza Strip.

Hamas is sending drivers back in harm's way in the north by placing vehicles on the road.

"They are shooting at people," the Gazan civilian says.

This report was first published by the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS.org) and was republished by permission on Newsmax.