Israel Calls for Evacuation of Civilians in Gaza City as Military Gathers Tanks
Israel’s military has issued an urgent call for over 1 million civilians in Gaza City to evacuate south within the next 24 hours. This comes as the Israeli military amasses tanks near the Gaza Strip in preparation for a potential ground invasion. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared, “Now is a time for war,” as Israeli warplanes continued to carry out airstrikes in retaliation for the deadliest attack by Palestinian militants in the country’s history.
The United Nations has expressed grave concern over the potential humanitarian consequences of evacuating such a massive number of people. The UN spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, stated that the order, if confirmed, should be rescinded to prevent a tragic situation from turning into a calamity.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, criticized the UN’s response to Israel’s warning, calling it “shameful.” In contrast, Hamas, the militant group responsible for the attacks, dismissed the relocation warning as “fake propaganda” and urged citizens not to be fooled by it.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with reports indicating that over 1,300 Israelis have been killed, according to public broadcaster Kan, and Gaza authorities stating that over 1,500 Palestinians have lost their lives. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have warned that essential resources like fuel for hospitals and food are running dangerously low.
In an effort to rally international support, Israel’s government presented graphic images of the atrocities committed by Hamas to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO defense ministers. Blinken described the photos, which included children and civilians killed in the attacks, as “depravity in the worst imaginable way” and reaffirmed America’s support for Israel while urging restraint.
As part of his Middle East tour, Blinken is set to meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah and Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority. He will also visit U.S. allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, countries that may have influence over Hamas.
Meanwhile, Hamas has called on Palestinians to rise up in protest against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, urging them to march to East Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque and clash with Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank.
The conflict has sparked civil unrest in Europe, with police in Paris intervening in a banned rally in support of the Palestinian people. In Amsterdam and London, Jewish schools are temporarily closing due to safety concerns. In the United States, law enforcement officials have increased security around synagogues and Jewish community centers.
Israel’s parliament approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency unity government, which includes centrist opposition lawmakers, as a show of unified determination to fight Hamas.
Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of using white phosphorus munitions, which pose a significant risk to civilians, during its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Israel’s military denies using such weapons.
North Korea has denied allegations that its weapons were used by Hamas in the attacks against Israel, calling it a bid by the United States to divert blame.
In response to safety concerns, the U.S. State Department will offer charter flights to Europe for Americans wishing to leave Israel. Japan has also arranged for a charter flight to depart Tel Aviv for its citizens on Saturday.
The situation remains grim, with both Israeli and Palestinian communities suffering immense loss and devastation. As the conflict escalates, the international community is urgently seeking ways to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.