Israel tells over 1m Palestinians to leave Gaza City within 24 hours

In the midst of its heavy bombardment in retaliation for Hamas strikes, Israel has demanded the rapid displacement of 1.1 million people in Gaza, with the UN expressing concern over “devastating” repercussions.

Israel tells Palestinians leave Gaza City: According to the UN, it would be “impossible” to move the whole inhabitants of northern Gaza to the southern part of the territory and urgently pleaded for the order to be reversed.

Six days after Hamas carried out the bloodiest attack on Israel since the foundation of the nation in 1948, resulting in more than 1,200 fatalities, the UN reported that it received the order shortly before midnight on Thursday.

More than 1,400 people have died and nearly 400,000 people have been displaced as a result of Israel’s six-day barrage of air and artillery assaults on the packed enclave in Gaza.

Following what has been dubbed “Israel’s 9/11,” it is preparing for a potential ground invasion of Palestinian land.

“Israeli Army Requests Evacuation of Gaza City Residents Amid Controversy and UN Response”

On Friday, the Israeli army announced that it had requested that residents of Gaza City leave for the south.

The Israeli military had previously told UN workers in Gaza that “the entire population of Gaza north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza within the next 24 hours,” according to their earlier statements.

That amounted to over 1.1 million people, the UN secretary-general’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric told AFP. He said that the directive also applied to all UN employees and anyone seeking shelter in UN buildings, such as hospitals, schools, and clinics.

Prior to Israel’s confirmation, Dujarric stated, “The United Nations strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded in order to avoid what could turn what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation.”

Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, expressed his outrage when the UN described its response to the warning to Gaza people as “shameful!”

In a message to AFP from his office, Erdan said that “for many years, the UN has turned a blind eye to the arming of Hamas and its use of the civilian population and civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip as a hiding place for its weapons and murder.”

Safety of passage?

The coastal enclave of Gaza, home to 2.4 million people, is currently going through its fifth conflict in 15 years.

Israeli fighter jets and drones have bombarded Gaza nonstop, levelling entire neighbourhoods and destroying thousands of structures.

According to the UN, more than 423,000 Palestinians have already left their homes in Gaza.

However, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday urged Gazans to “stay steadfast and remain on their land” in the face of appeals for Cairo to provide safe passage for evacuating residents.

“As part of a siege, Israel has cut off Gaza’s access to power, food, and water and has pledged to maintain this siege until all hostages are release.”

human services to Gaza? “Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz stated that they would not activate any electrical switches, open water taps, or allow fuel trucks to enter until they bring the Israeli abductees back home.”

In the event that Israel destroys Gazan civilian sites without giving advance notice, Hamas has threatened to execute hostages.

One of the distressed Israelis, Ausa Meir, said of her brother Michael, who is one among the prisoners, “I know he’s out there somewhere.”

It’s excruciatingly painful.

US backing

The United States has committed to help Israel in its conflict with Hamas without wavering.

At a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday in Tel Aviv, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself.”

But you won’t have to for as long as America survives. We’ll be on your side constantly.

Netanyahu expressed gratitude for US cooperation, including military assistance, and advocated dealing with Hamas, which controls the blockaded Gaza Strip, in a manner similar to the Islamic State organization.

Netanyahu declared, “We will destroy Hamas, just as we destroyed ISIS. Hamas should be addressed in the same way as ISIS.”

In the meanwhile, Blinken emphasised that Hamas does not speak for the Palestinian people.

Blinken declared, “Anyone who seeks peace and justice must condemn Hamas’s reign of terror.”

After that, Blinken travelled to Jordan, where he would meet Friday with Mahmud Abbas, the president of Palestine, and King Abdullah II.

To exert pressure on Hamas and ensure the release of captives, Netanyahu will also travel to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

Hospital cemeteries

Gaza’s hospitals “risk turning into mortuaries,” according to the Middle East regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Fabrizio Carboni.

The largest hospital, al-Shifa Hospital, experienced hectic scenes on Thursday with an endless stream of ambulances, family inquiring about the status of their loved ones, and wailing sobs from the bereaved.

A team from AFP observed scores of remains covered in white shrouds in cold storage rooms and on the mortuary floor.

Palestinian President Abbas demanded a “immediate end to comprehensive aggression against the Palestinian people” in his first public remarks following Hamas’ attack on Israel.

To meet the most pressing needs in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, the UN humanitarian organisation has launched an urgent appeal for over $300 million.

Later, Blinken told reporters that the pictures were “new evidence of Hamas’ depravity and inhumanity.”

Hamas, meanwhile, denied that any of its soldiers killed infants during the attack on Saturday.

According to political bureau member Ezzat al-Rishaq, “no evidence has been submitted to support such false claims.” He labelled it a “fake and false Israeli narrative.”

 Military expansion

Israeli forces, tanks, and heavy armour have raced to the southern desert regions around Gaza from which Hamas rebels launched their historic offensive on October 7 after mobilising 300,000 reserve personnel.

Since then, Israeli soldiers have stormed through the southern cities and kibbutz communities, killing 1,500 people and uncovering ever-larger numbers of shockingly dead civilians.

In a show of solidarity for Israel, the United States has provided weapons and despatched an aircraft carrier battle group to the eastern Mediterranean while issuing a warning to Israel’s other foes not to become involved.

In order to support Israel and “ensure regional stability and prevent further escalation,” the UK said in London that it was sending two Royal Navy ships and surveillance aircraft to the eastern Mediterranean.

Iran, Israel’s arch-enemy, has long provided military and financial support to Hamas and has welcomed the strike, but it claims it was not directly involve.

In a phone discussion with his Syrian friend Bashar al-Assad, Iran’s ultra-conservative President Ebrahim Raisi urged Islamic and Arab nations to oppose Israel and defend the “oppressed Palestinian nation”.

According to state media, which cited an unnamed military source, Israel also carried out “simultaneous” attacks on landing strips at Syria’s two major airports in Aleppo and Damascus, rendering them inoperable.