According to the Israeli army, residents can only return when Israel gives permission. The UN has asked Israel to cancel the evacuation order.
The Israeli army has ordered Palestinians to move out of Gaza City and northern Gaza. The order was issued on Friday morning Finnish time.
Israel warns that significant military operations will be carried out in the region in the coming days. More than half a million people live in Gaza City.
– The terrorist organization Hamas has started a war against the state of Israel, and military operations are taking place in the city of Gaza. Hamas terrorists are hiding in tunnels under houses and buildings containing innocent civilians, the Israeli military said in a statement.
The evacuation line runs through Wadi Gaza in the middle of the Gaza Strip. North of Wadi Gaza, 1.1 million Gazans live, i.e. about half of Gaza’s population. Israel urges residents to move to the south side of the city.
Doctors and nurses refuse to leave
It is practically impossible to safely evacuate a million people a day. Many roads have been destroyed and attacks are also carried out outside the designated evacuation area.
A spokesman for the Red Crescent aid organization in the Palestinian territories operating in Gaza Nebal Farsakh says many members of the medical and rescue staff refuse to leave and evacuate patients.
– What happens to the patients. There are wounded, elderly and children in the hospitals, Farsakh explains in an interview with the news agency AP.
According to Nebal Farsakh, people have nowhere to go. News photos show people carrying children, suitcases and plastic bags. Most of them are on foot.
Ground attack coming in the next few days
Familiar with the Middle East Tapio Kujala considers the likely start date of the strike to be at the beginning of next week. Although Israel calls to leave the area during Friday, according to Kujala, the beginning of the ground attack is not at hand at the same time.
– Today is a holy day for Muslims and tomorrow is the Sabbath for Israelis, says Kujala, rector of Tampere University of Applied Sciences and who lived in the area, in Ylen Aamus.
According to the release, Palestinians can only return to their homes after receiving permission from Israel.
Diplomatic shuttling is fierce
The UN has asked Israel to withdraw the evacuation order “due to the devastating humanitarian consequences”. According to Israel, it has the right to defend itself. It considers the UN’s demand “shameful and says that it strives to minimize harm to civilians”.
In a highly inflamed situation, attempts are being made to continue discussions in order to mitigate the crisis.
of the US Secretary of State in the Middle East by Antony Blinken is scheduled to meet with the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas by day. Yesterday, Thursday, Blinken discussed the president of Israel by Isaac Herzog with and assured US support for Israel. Among other things, Haaretz-leht writes about iti.
The US Secretary of Defense, who arrived in Israel today Lloyd Austin’s is, in turn, to be discussed by the Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuMinister of Defense by Yoav Gallant and with the rest of Israel’s leadership.
The UN Security Council will meet in closed session to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during this day.
Sources: AP, AFP, Reuters