On Friday, Israel’s military communicated with the United Nations, advising that the 1.1 million Palestinian residents in Gaza relocate to the southern part of the enclave within the next 24 hours, as per a statement by a U.N. spokesperson.
This has raised concerns among Palestinians that it may be a precursor to a planned Israeli ground offensive. The Israeli military has not yet issued a response to this warning, which coincided with the positioning of tanks near the Gaza border and intensified airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave following a lethal attack by Hamas militants in Israel.
Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the United Nations, expressed serious apprehension, stating, “The United Nations deems that such a large-scale relocation would inevitably lead to severe humanitarian consequences. We urgently appeal that, if confirmed, this directive be revoked to prevent a tragedy from escalating into a calamitous situation.”
Dujarric also clarified that the Israeli military’s directive applies to all U.N. personnel and those seeking refuge in U.N. facilities, including schools, health centers, and clinics.
As of now, there has been no response from Israel’s mission to the United Nations in New York regarding this matter. The recent outbreak of violence, marked by a weekend rampage by Hamas that resulted in the loss of 1,300 lives, stands as the deadliest attack on Israeli civilians in the nation’s history.
Israel’s response has involved imposing a siege on Gaza, home to 2.3 million people, and launching a bombing campaign resulting in the devastation of entire neighborhoods. According to Gaza authorities, over 1,500 Palestinians have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict.
