The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 1,799, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced on Friday. At least 1,300 Israelis have been killed and 3,300 injured in attacks from Gaza.
The situation escalated in the Gaza Strip after attacks by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israeli cities on Saturday.
Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, launched an all-out operation dubbed “Aqsa Flood” on Saturday morning.
Israel retaliated with massive airstrikes on Gaza.
Israeli police intervened against Palestinians who were not allowed to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque
Israeli police intervened with tear gas against Palestinians who were not allowed to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Al-Quds (Jerusalem).
Israeli police did not allow many Palestinians to enter the Old City, where Al-Aqsa is located, and intervened with water cannons and tear gas against Palestinians gathered around the Old City.
Only 5,000 Palestinians were allowed to pray Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Israel has imposed age restrictions.
According to Al-Quds Islamic Foundation Administration, the Israeli police did not allow men, especially those under 50 years of age, who wanted to go to the Old City, to perform Juma prayers in Al-Aqsa.
The Israeli army declared a town near the border with Lebanon a closed military zone
The Israeli military declared the town of Metula near the border with Lebanon a closed military zone amid rising tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Israel’s army radio clarified the measure, saying it applied to parts of the city near the border fence with Lebanon.
It added that the step was taken as a “precautionary measure” based on a security assessment of the situation.
During Saturday’s fighting between Palestinian groups and Israel, the Israeli army exchanged fire with the Hezbollah group in several incidents, resulting in deaths on both sides.
Palestinians move into the southern areas of the Gaza Strip
Residents of the Gaza Strip began moving south on Friday, following Israel’s call for the entire population from Gaza and its northern parts to be moved to the enclave’s south.
Earlier on Friday, the Israeli army ordered all residents of Gaza City to evacuate and move south.
On Friday, the Arab League called on United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to intervene to prevent the evacuation of Gaza residents.
Aboul Geit described the Israeli move as “a war crime that Israel plans to commit, as part of its shameful bloody campaign against the Gaza Strip.” He stressed that Israel’s evacuation plan “will lead to unlimited suffering for the Palestinian brothers in Gaza.” He noted that Israel’s request clearly violates the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the forced movement of populations.
Calling Israel’s order to evacuate more than a million Palestinians from northern Gaza over the next 24 hours “appalling,” United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Filipe Lazarini said:
“This will only lead to unprecedented levels of suffering and push the people of Gaza further into the abyss.”
UNICEF spokesman James Elder, when asked by Anadolu agency journalist about the Israeli order to evacuate Palestinians from northern Gaza in the next 24 hours, said that it is “simply not possible” to do so in such a densely populated area, AA reports.
