The Israeli army is asking 1.1 million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to move to the southern part of the territory within the next 24 hours, and the UN has expressed fear that this could precede a planned ground offensive after the deadly attack by Hamas.
UN spokesman Stefan Dužarik said that officials of the world organization in Gaza received a notification from the liaison officer of the Israeli army that the entire population of the territory north of Wadi Gaza should move to the southern part of the Palestinian enclave in the next 24 hours.
“It is about 1.1 million people, or almost half of the total population of 2.3 million who live in Gaza. The area north of Wadi Gaza includes the largest city – Gaza,” said Dužarik.
He pointed out that the Israeli army’s warning applies to all UN staff and all institutions under the auspices of the world organization, such as schools, health centers and clinics.
According to him, the UN believes that it is “impossible to carry out a similar population transfer without devastating humanitarian consequences”.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, said it was a “shameful response” by the world organization to the army’s warning.
He stated that the UN should focus on condemning Hamas and supporting Israel’s right to self-defense.
Analysts believe that everything indicates that Erdan thereby confirmed the relocation of the population.
The Palestinian group Hamas has called on Palestinians not to leave their homes, after Israel ordered their mass evacuation.
