NEW YORK: The United Nations said Israel’s military informed it late on Thursday that 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza should relocate to the south part of the enclave within the next 24 hours, in what Palestinians fear could be a precursor to a planned Israeli ground offensive following a Hamas group attack.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, in a statement from New York, revealed that UN officials in Gaza were notified by their liaison officers in the Israeli military about the relocation directive for the entire population north of Wadi Gaza. This area includes Gaza City, the largest city in the enclave. Dujarric expressed concern, stating that such a mass movement would have devastating humanitarian consequences, considering the density of the population.
The Israeli military, as of now, has not provided immediate comment on the warning. This development coincided with the deployment of tanks near the Gaza border and continued airstrikes on the enclave.
While Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, did not directly address the relocation order, he criticized the UN’s response, calling it “shameful” and urging the organization to condemn Hamas and support Israel’s right to self-defense.
Hamas government media office head Salama Marouf dismissed the relocation warning as Israeli propaganda aimed at causing confusion and internal discord. He urged citizens not to engage in these attempts. Marouf also referred to a recent weekend rampage by Hamas that killed 1,300 people, marking the worst attack on civilians in Israel’s history.
In response to the ongoing situation, Israel has placed Gaza under siege and initiated a bombing campaign in civilian populated areas resulting in the destruction of entire Gaza Strip. According to Gaza authorities, the death toll among Palestinians has exceeded 1,500. Dujarric emphasized that the relocation order received by the UN in Gaza also applied to all UN staff and those sheltered in UN facilities, including schools, health centers, and clinics.
