The Israeli military has issued an evacuation order to approximately 1.1 million residents in northern Gaza, signaling its intention to escalate its response to the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas.
Israeli airstrikes persistently targeted the densely populated coastal area, which is under the control of Hamas. In response, Gaza’s civilian population hurriedly packed their belongings into vehicles such as cars, taxis, and pickup trucks, while those with no other means began a difficult journey on foot, carrying whatever they could.
Images circulating on social media depicted the Israel Defense Forces dropping leaflets from aircraft, urging Gazans to move south to avoid further dangers.
The IDF conveyed a message, emphasizing their intent to continue significant operations in Gaza City in the upcoming days, with a commitment to minimizing harm to civilians. They warned the population to evacuate south for their safety and the safety of their families, emphasizing the need to distance themselves from Hamas militants who are allegedly using them as human shields.
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Israeli forces also conducted localized raids in Gaza to gather information about the whereabouts of approximately 150 hostages held by Hamas in the area.
The evacuation order by Israel has drawn sharp criticism from the United Nations and various humanitarian organizations.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking in advance of a Security Council meeting on the conflict, expressed deep concerns, stating that moving over a million people across a densely populated warzone to an area lacking essential resources such as food, water, and shelter, while the entire territory is under siege, is an extremely perilous and, in some cases, unfeasible action.
The UN, along with humanitarian entities like the Norwegian Refugee Council and Amnesty International, has called for Israel to revoke its evacuation order. They argue that compelling Gaza’s civilians to relocate constitutes a war crime of forcible transfer, as stated by the Norwegian Refugee Council.
