UN says Israel wants all Palestinians in north Gaza – 1.1m people – to move to south within 24 hours
‘Civilians are not our enemy’ – Israeli military
The early evacuation order is part of Israel’s “humanitarian measures” in the Gaza Strip, says Israeli spokesperson Jonathan Conricus.
In his latest video update posted on X, formerly called Twitter, he said their aim was to save lives, adding: “Civilians are not our enemy.”
He said the military wants to minimise civilian casualties as it strikes targets in the Gaza Strip, and that it remains fully committed to the laws of international armed conflict.
“We understand it will take time,” he said about the evacuation. “It’s not an easy process.”
About 1.1 million people – half of the entire population of the Gaza Strip – are affected by the evacuation order.
Israeli military tells Gaza City residents to leave for ‘safety and protection’
In the last hour we’ve heard from the Israeli military, which has directly told civilians of Gaza City to evacuate to the south.
“You will be able to return to Gaza City only when another announcement permitting it is made,” officials said in the statement addressed to the city, which is the main urban area of the Gaza Strip.
The IDF said Hamas militants are hiding inside tunnels underneath the ciy and inside buildings populated with civilians. It urged civilians to evacuate the city “for your own safety and the safety of your families and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields”.
“In the following days, the IDF will continue to operate significantly in Gaza City and make extensive efforts to avoid harming civilians,” it added.
As we’ve reported, the order comes as Israel is expected to launch a ground offensive into Gaza with thousands of troops amassing at the border.
The UN has strongly appealed for the order to be rescinded, saying an evacuation could lead to a “calamitous situation” and would have “devastating humanitarian consequences”.
Share this:
Discover more from #News247WorldPress
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.