Palestine: The United Nations has sharply criticized Israel’s evacuation order in Gaza and noted that evacuating residents is “not possible.”
“After days of airstrikes, the Israeli Defense Forces have ordered the Palestinians in Gaza City and its surroundings to move to the south of the territory,” UN Secretary General Mr. Antonio Guterres said ahead of a Security Council meeting about the conflict.
According to the UN Secretary General, moving more than one million people across a densely populated warzone to a place with no food, water, or accommodation when the entire territory is under siege is extremely dangerous—and in some cases, simply “not possible.”
Additionally, humanitarian organizations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council and Amnesty International, have also called for Israel to revoke its order.
“Forcing Gaza civilians to relocate amounts to the war crime of forcible transfer,” the Norwegian Refugee Council commented.
Recently, Israel’s military asked 1.1 million people in northern Gaza to evacuate their homes immediately, as it appears to be preparing for retaliation for Hamas attacks. Israeli airstrikes continued in the densely populated Gaza Strip controlled by Hamas, prompting civilians to quickly evacuate south.
According to reports, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have dropped leaflets from planes telling Gazans to go south or risk further danger.
“In the following days, the IDF will continue to operate significantly in Gaza City and make extensive efforts to avoid harming civilians. 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,” the IDF warned.
The Israeli military also held local raids in Gaza in order to locate some 150 hostages held by Hamas in the area.
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