Smoke over Gaza city, October 12. Photo: Hatem Moussa/TT News Agency
According to the United Nations, the Israeli army is now warning 1.1 million Palestinians in northern Gaza and urging them to flee to the southern parts of Gaza, within 24 hours, Reuters reports.
“The UN believes it is impossible to implement this without devastating humanitarian consequences,” said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, in a statement.
The area that according to Israel is to be evacuated includes around half the population of the Gaza Strip and Gaza City, according to the BBC. The warning to evacuate came around midnight.
During Friday morning, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that operations will take place in Gaza.
“The IDF will continue to operate significantly in Gaza City in the coming days and wants to avoid harming civilians,” the IDF writes on X.
According to the IDF, residents are urged to get south of the Gaza River.