In a dramatic turn of events, Israel’s military has issued a call for all residents of Gaza City, numbering over a million people, to relocate to the south within the next 24 hours. This announcement comes as the Israeli forces amass tanks near the Gaza Strip, raising concerns about a potential ground invasion.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant declared, “Now is a time for war,” following a series of airstrikes in Gaza as retaliation for weekend attacks by Hamas militants, which tragically claimed the lives of over 1,300 Israelis, with a majority being civilians.
ALSO READ: Empowering Health and Hope: Strategies for Cancer Prevention
The Israeli military has indicated its intention to conduct significant operations within Gaza City in the days to come, with civilians only permitted to return after further notice. The military’s statement urged Gaza City’s residents to evacuate southward for their own safety, emphasizing the danger posed by Hamas terrorists who allegedly use them as human shields.
However, a Hamas official dismissed this relocation warning as “fake propaganda” and urged citizens not to heed it. The United Nations expressed grave concerns, deeming it impossible for such a mass movement of people to occur without causing devastating humanitarian consequences.
Meanwhile, Israel has reiterated its determination to annihilate the Hamas militant group, which was responsible for the attacks that prompted this escalation.
ALSO READ: Earthquake Detected in UAE – Mild Tremors Reported by Residents
According to the Israeli military, over 750 military targets in northern Gaza were struck overnight. These included alleged Hamas tunnels, military compounds, residences of senior operatives, and weapons storage warehouses.
The looming prospect of a ground invasion raises serious concerns, with Hamas reportedly holding numerous hostages taken during the initial attacks. The Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million people, remains under siege by Israel, resulting in severe casualties with over 1,500 Palestinians killed in retaliatory actions since the recent incursions.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed alarm over the imminent exhaustion of fuel that powers emergency generators at hospitals in Gaza. In addition, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of dangerously low supplies of food and fresh water.
In response to these dire circumstances, ICRC regional director Fabrizio Carboni stated, “The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent, and I implore the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians.”
The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) has made significant changes by relocating its central operations center and international staff to Gaza’s southern areas. The situation remains highly volatile and is being closely monitored by the international community.
