The Israeli military on Friday said it has asked Palestinian civilians in Gaza City to evacuate and relocate to the southern part of the region. It said that the action is for their safety as Hamas is based in underground tunnels and in the same buildings as the civilians.
Earlier, the United Nations (UN) asked Israel to reconsider any such order and said that such a relocation would be "impossible" and it would have very serious humanitarian consequences. Any such relocation would involve moving around 1.1 million people.
Separately, Hamas has called for a 'Day of Rage' against Israel on Friday as the Israel-Hamas War enters the sixth day and toll continues to mount on both the sides.
The Israel-Hamas War is increasingly likely to become a multi-front conflict as attacks on Israel have also been mounted from neighbouring Lebanon and Syria. Both of these countries host Iran-backed groups that are pitched against Israel.
As Israel continues to fend off the continuous rocket attacks from Gaza and fresh offensives from Lebanon and Syria, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin arrived in Israel on Friday to hold meetings with Israeli leaders on the ongoing situation. The meeting comes just two days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel and expressed unflinching US support to Israel. He is currently holding wider consultations with regional leaders.
Following the unprecedented attack on Israel last week by Hamas that killed over 1,300 people in Israel, the United States has supported Israel unequivocally. American nationals have also been killed and several are believed to be among 100-150 hostages held in Gaza.
Israel tells Gaza City to evacuate
The Israeli military on Friday said it has told the civilians of Gaza City to evacuate and relocate to southern regions.
The Israeli military said that the directive is for the safety of the civilians as Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organisation, is based in underground tunnels and in the same buildings as civilians, using the civilians as "human shields". The directive also said that the civilians may not return until further notice.
"The IDF calls for the evacuation of all civilians of Gaza City from their homes southwards for their own safety and protection and move to the area south of the Wadi Gaza, as shown on the map...Civilians of Gaza City, evacuate south for your own safety and the safety of your families and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields," said IDF in a statement shared on Twitter.
Earlier, the United Nations (UN) on Thursday night said the Israeli military has told North Gaza to vacate to the southern part of Gaza Strip to vacate within next 24 hours. Such a relocation would involve around 1.1 million Palestinians and the UN has termed it "impossible" because of the severe humanitarian consequences it would have.
"The United Nations considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences. The United Nations strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation," said UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, as per Reuters.
The Israeli military further said, "Hamas terrorists are hiding in Gaza City inside tunnels underneath houses and inside buildings populated with innocent Gazan civilians...In the following days, the IDF will continue to operate significantly in Gaza City and make extensive efforts to avoid harming civilians."
Hamas, which controls Gaza, has asked the Palestinian civilians in Gaza to remain and not leave. The Times of Israel has reported that those Palestinians wanting to leave Gaza City are being stopped by Hamas.
"A Gaza resident speaking to The Times of Israel on condition of anonymity confirms that Hamas is preventing residents of the north of the strip from evacuating to the south, following an evacuation order issued by the IDF for Friday morning," reported ToI.
"When they find people going to their cars, they force them to go back," ToI quoted the resident as saying, adding that many residents are not planning to relocate as they feel there is nowhere to go.
"A Gaza resident speaking to The Times of Israel on condition of anonymity confirms that Hamas is preventing residents of the north of the strip from evacuating to the south, following an evacuation order issued by the IDF for Friday morning," reported ToI.
"When they find people going to their cars, they force them to go back," ToI quoted the resident as saying, adding that many residents are not planning to relocate as they feel there is nowhere to go.
While initial reports, citing a statement by the UN, said that the Israel had given a 24-hour deadline for the relocation, The New York Times has reported the Israeli military spokesperson as saying it understands any such movement would take time.
"We understand it will take time. We are looking at the numbers," said Israeli military's chief spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari to NYT, adding that Israel was "controlling its attacks" in order to provide safe passage to the south, as far as possible but also said that “it’s a war zone".
Hamas calls for 'Day of Rage' against Israel
Hamas has called for a 'Day of Rage' against Israel across the world on Friday. The local authorities in several parts of the world have beefed up security as a precaution against any possible violent incident against Israelis or Jews.
On the 'Day of Rage', former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal on Tuesday called for Muslims and supporters around the world to "mobilise for jihad" and to gather around the world on Friday, stating "when the world sees that the nation has triumphed to Al-Aqsa, and the convoys of fighters have begun to go to shed their blood for the sake of Palestine, the scene will change", according to The Jerusalem Post.
US Defence Secretary to visit Israel
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Israel on Friday to hold deliberations with Israeli leaders.
Austin's visit to Israel comes days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel to express unequivocal support to Israel. Blinken is currently holding wider deliberations with the leaders in the Middle East.
Austin is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to determine what additional military aid is needed in the war with Hamas, reported The Associated Press (AP).
Austin told reporters on Thursday that the United States is "working urgently to get Israel what it needs to defend itself, including munitions and our iron Dome interceptor interceptors", reported AP.
Attacks continue and death toll mounts
The Israel-Hamas War has continued to wage for the sixth day on Friday as rocket attacks on Israel continue on Israel from Gaza and Lebanon and Israeli also continues to conduct airstrikes on Gaza.
Rocket attacks have also continued from Gaza into Israel. Some of the major targets facing attacks on Friday were cities of Sderot and Ashkelon. The CNN also reported that explosions also took place in Old Jerusalem, the ancient city sacred to the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Hamas has claimed that it has fired 150 rockets on Ashkelon alone.
Additionally, Judean foothills and cities of Kfar Bilu, Gedera, and Kiryat Ekron also faced rocket barrages, according to The Times of Israel.
So far, at least 1,300 have been killed in Israel and at least around 2,900 have been killed in the all-out offensive of last Saturday and the subsequent attack. Around 100-150 people are also being held as hostages in the Gaza Strip.
The death toll has also soared to 1,500 Palestinians in Gaza and at least 6,600 have been injured, according to Gaza authorities. The humanitarian condition has also continued to worsen as 338,000 Palestinians have been displaced since the start of the fighting. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that hospitals in Gaza are "at a breaking point".
CNN also reported, "Earlier Thursday, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned hospitals in Gaza 'risk turning into morgues' as they lose power during Israel's bombardment of the enclave. And shortages of food, water and electricity have already been putting extra strain on medical facilities. The World Food Programme (WFP) said it has plans to work with the UNRWA to 'reach over 800,000 people across Palestine'. On Wednesday, the WFP said it delivered food to over 175,000 displaced people across 88 shelters."
