Israel Gives 24 Hours To Evacuate Population Of Northern Gaza
- 13.10.2023, 7:42
The IDF command has notified the UN.
The Israel Defence Forces Command has notified the UN that the entire population of the northern Gaza Strip should be evacuated to the south of the Strip within the next 24 hours.
This was announced by the spokesperson for the organisation's secretary general Stephane Dujarric, noting that there are about 1.1 million people living in the northern Gaza Strip, newsru.co.il reported.
The IDF issued the following message: "The Hamas terrorist organisation has launched a war against the State of Israel. Gaza City is an area where hostilities are taking place. Evacuation is necessary for your personal safety. You will be able to return to Gaza only after proper notification. Do not approach the border of the State of Israel. Hamas terrorists are hiding in tunnels under houses in Gaza City, with innocent civilians inside many buildings. People of Gaza, move south for your personal safety and the safety of your families, distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who use you as human shields."
Hamas called on residents of the Gaza Strip to "disobey IDF evacuation orders."
Israel appears to have been preparing for a ground offensive for the past few days, pulling soldiers, heavy artillery and tanks to the Gaza border.
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Friday.
Israel's representative to the UN, Gilad Erdan, reacted sharply to a UN statement in which the organisation asks that the order to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip in the next 24 hours be lifted.
"The UN's reaction to Israel's early warning to the people of Gaza is shameful! For years, the UN has turned a blind eye to Hamas arming and using the civilian population and civilian infrastructure of the Gaza Strip as a haven for weapons and murder. Now, instead of siding with Israel, whose citizens have been killed by Hamas terrorists, and which is trying to minimise the damage to those not involved, it is preaching to Israel," he said.
The diplomat said the UN needs to focus on returning hostages taken by militants to Israel, condemning Hamas and supporting Israel's right to self-defence.
The Israel Defence Forces also issued an appeal to the residents of Gaza, asking them to evacuate to the south "for their own safety".
"Civilian residents of Gaza City, evacuate south for your own safety and that of your families, and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields. In the days ahead, the IDF will remain active in Gaza City and will make every effort to avoid harming civilians," the statement said.
According to Reuters, Israeli tanks have amassed near the Gaza Strip, indicating an impending invasion and ground operation to destroy Hamas. The IDF said in a statement to Gaza residents that militants are hiding "in tunnels under houses and inside buildings inhabited by innocent civilians".
"In the days ahead, the IDF will remain active in Gaza City and will make every effort to avoid harming civilians," the appeal said. According to Axios, an Israeli ground operation in the region is "inevitable."