Israel’s military notified the UN early Friday that the 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza need to relocate to the enclave’s south within the next 24 hours, which Palestinians believe is a prelude to a planned Israeli ground offensive, as reported by a UN official.
“Now is the time for war,” Israel’s military leader warned as his country amassed tanks near the Gaza Strip in preparation for a ground offensive to exterminate the Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas, which controls the region and was behind the deadly weekend attacks on Israel.
The UN says Israel's call for the evacuation of 1.1 million people living in northern Gaza within the next 24 hours is "impossible" https://t.co/xzQpB5sgpW
— Bloomberg (@business) October 13, 2023
Israel Orders Evacuation
On Friday, the Israeli Army ordered all Gaza residents to leave their houses and move south “for their safety.”
It stated, “The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) calls for the evacuation of all civilians of Gaza City from their homes southwards for their own safety and protection and to move to the area south of the Wadi Gaza as shown on the map.”
The UN officials in Gaza “were informed by their liaison officers in the Israeli military that the entire population of Gaza north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza within the next 24 hours,” as stated by UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
Dujarric said, “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“The United Nations strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation,” Dujarric remarked.
Dujarric also said the Israeli military order extended to all UN workers and those housed in UN institutions like schools, health centres, and hospitals.
Gaza Update:
— United Nations (@UN) October 12, 2023
220,000 people sheltering in 92 @UNRWA schools
340,000 displaced Palestinians
With no access to provide essential supplies, UN humanitarians warn that Gaza is on the brink of running out of food, water, electricity & critical supplies. https://t.co/PqFxuGi1K0 pic.twitter.com/XjGhau7bZA
Deteriorating Situation in Gaza
The UN launched an emergency plea for $294 million on Thursday to meet “the most urgent needs” in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the funds will assist more than 1.2 million people, with relief organisations lacking “the resources required to adequately respond to the full range of needs of vulnerable Palestinians.”
The UN said that more than 423,000 Palestinians have been forced to abandon their homes in Gaza as Israel continues to attack the Palestinian territory. Nearly 218,000 internally displaced individuals (IDPs) are being housed in 92 schools.
Dujarric claimed that over 2,500 housing units have been demolished or badly damaged, rendering them unusable, while roughly 23,000 others have suffered moderate to minor damage.
At least 88 educational facilities have been targeted, including 18 UNRWA schools, two of which were used as displaced people’s emergency shelters, and 70 Palestinian Authority schools, the spokesperson added.