In a desperate exodus, civilians in northern Gaza are evacuating their homes by car, truck, and foot following an Israeli warning instructing approximately 1.1 million people to move south within the next day. The Israeli military acknowledges the logistical challenge of evacuating such a massive population but places blame on Hamas for advising citizens to disregard the call.
As tensions escalate, Israel has deployed troops near Gaza in anticipation of a looming ground offensive. The UN has urgently appealed to Israel to withdraw its evacuation order, citing “devastating humanitarian consequences.” Meanwhile, a total blockade is exacerbating the crisis, with dwindling supplies of fuel, food, and water, and Israel linking the lifting of restrictions to the release of hostages by Hamas.
Turkey strongly condemns Israel’s evacuation order, denouncing it as “completely unacceptable” and a violation of international law. The Turkish foreign ministry insists that Israel must reverse this decision promptly to avert further harm to the already suffering population in Gaza.
In the occupied West Bank, the death toll from Israeli fire continues to rise, with at least nine people reported killed and dozens wounded in various locations. The White House acknowledges the complexity of evacuating a million people in the densely populated urban environment of northern Gaza but emphasises that Israel is attempting to provide civilians with “fair warning.”
The UN’s Palestinian refugee agency describes Gaza as rapidly descending into a humanitarian crisis, with the commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini deeming Israel’s evacuation order as “horrendous.” Lazzarini pleads for immediate and unconditional humanitarian access and protection for Gaza’s civilians, urging all parties involved to uphold the laws of war and prevent further misery in the region.
