Residents of Gaza have reportedly told intelligence operatives from an elite unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that Hamas terrorists have confiscated people’s car keys to stop them from fleeing northern Gaza as Israel prepares to launch its ground invasion.

The residents made the remarks to an agent in Unit 504 of the Intelligence Corps, a top-secret unit that sends undercover agents on sensitive missions around the world.

A Gaza resident of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip told Israeli operatives that Hamas confiscated personal equipment and car keys from people in a shelter where he was staying.

“This is further evidence that the terrorist organization Hamas actively prevents its citizens from evacuating and protecting themselves,” the IDF said as it waits for more people to be evacuated to southern Gaza before it launches its operations.

Unit 504 is split up into two different functions: one that collects human intelligence  in close proximity to combat and operational areas where the IDF is active and the second is interrogating prisoners for the purpose of extracting intelligence that is immediately passed back to forces in the field.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry released evidence on Saturday showing that Hamas was setting up roadblocks to stop a line of thousands of cars from being able to evacuate.

“We have proof that Hamas is putting up roadblocks to prevent Palestinian civilians from evacuating from northern to southern Gaza,” it said in a statement that included satellite images.

“Hamas prides itself on putting civilians in harm’s way and is responsible for every civilian casualty,” it added.

The IDF has employed various methods to get civilians to evacuate yet Hamas has implored measures to stop them from leaving as the terrorist group wants to use civilians as human shields.

We have proof that Hamas is putting up roadblocks to prevent Palestinian civilians from evacuating from northern to southern Gaza.

Hamas prides itself on putting civilians in harm’s way and is responsible for every civilian casualty.

???? @IDF #HamasISIS pic.twitter.com/rJoehbbEEo

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 14, 2023