Israel-Hamas war: Palestinians flee northern Gaza after Israel orders 1 million to evacuate

The U.N. warned that so many people fleeing en masse -- almost half the Gaza population -- would be calamitous, and it urged Israel to reverse the order. Families in cars, trucks and donkey carts packed with blankets and possessions streamed down a main road out of Gaza City, the biggest city.

"Forget about food, forget about electricity, forget about fuel. The only concern now is just if you'll make it, if you're going to live," said Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza City, as she broke into heaving sobs. A military spokesman said that after Israeli ground troops conducted their raids in Gaza on Friday, they then left. The moves did not appear to be the beginning of an expected ground invasion. Israel has been massing troops along the Gaza border since last Saturday's deadly incursion by Hamas militants.

Israel said it needed to target Hamas' military infrastructure, much of which is buried deep underground. Another spokesperson, Jonathan Conricus, said the military would take "extensive efforts to avoid harming civilians" and that residents would be allowed to return when the war is over. Gaza City resident Khaled Abu Sultan at first didn't believe the evacuation order was real, and now isn't sure whether to evacuate his family to the south. "We don't know if there are safe areas there," he said. "We don't know anything."

Gaza's Health Ministry said it was impossible to evacuate the many wounded from hospitals -- already struggling with high numbers of dead and injured. "We cannot evacuate hospitals and leave the wounded and sick to die," spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra said. Hagari added: "If Hamas prevents residents from evacuating, the responsibility lies with them." The U.N. had said the evacuation order it received gave Palestinians 24 hours to move, but the military told the AP there was no formal deadline.

Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Israel-Hamas war live updates: Israel conducts ‘large-scale strike’ on GazaCanadian Shir Georgy missing in Israel attended music festival near Gaza border; Family recounts details of Canadian Adi Vital-Kaploun’s abduction by Hamas, confirms her death
Source: globeandmail - 🏆 5. / 92 Read more »

Israel-Gaza news: Israel says no exceptions to Gaza siege unless hostages freedIsrael said on Thursday there would be no pause in its siege of the Gaza Strip for aid or evacuations until all its hostages were freed, as Washington urged it to protect civilians and the Red Cross warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave.
Source: CP24 - 🏆 30. / 67 Read more »

Israel-Gaza news: Israel says it will now allow aid to Gaza until hostages freedThe Israel military pulverized the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip with airstrikes, prepared for a possible ground invasion and said Thursday its complete siege on the territory - which has left Palestinians desperate for food, fuel and medicine - would remain in place until Hamas militants freed some 150 hostages taken during a deadly weekend incursion.
Source: CP24 - 🏆 30. / 67 Read more »

Israel-Gaza news: Israel says no exceptions to Gaza siege unless hostages freedIsrael said on Thursday there would be no humanitarian exceptions to its siege of the Gaza Strip until all its hostages were freed, after the Red Cross pleaded for fuel to be allowed in to prevent overwhelmed hospitals from 'turning into morgues.'
Source: CP24 - 🏆 30. / 67 Read more »

Get out of Gaza City now, Israel's military tells PalestiniansPalestinians flash the V for victory sign as they flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on October 13, 2023. Israel has called for the immediate relocation of 1.1 million people in Gaza amid its massive bombardment in retaliation for Hamas's attacks, with the United Nations warning of 'devastating' consequences.
Source: CBCNews - 🏆 2. / 99 Read more »

Palestinians flee northern Gaza after Israel orders 1 million to evacuate as ground attack loomsJERUSALEM (AP) — Palestinians began a mass exodus from northern Gaza Friday after Israel’s military told some 1 million people to evacuate toward the southern part of the besieged territory, an unprecedented order ahead of an expected ground invasion
Source: BurnabyNOW_News - 🏆 14. / 77 Read more »