The UN says Israel is calling on Gaza civilians to leave the strip “for safety and security” within the next 24 hours. Russians are leaving Israel en masse.
How writes BBC, this is an official statement made on the morning of October 13th and addressed to the city:
“For the sake of your own safety, the safety of your families, we urge you to distance yourself from the Hamas terrorists who are using you as a human shield. You will only be able to return to Gaza City once permission has been made. In the coming days, the IDF will continue to be active in Gaza City and will make every effort to avoid causing harm to civilians.”
The IDF said Hamas fighters were hiding in tunnels under the city and inside buildings inhabited by civilians. The order comes as Israel is expected to launch a ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, where thousands of soldiers are massing along the border, the BBC notes.
The civilian population must “move to the area south of Wadi Gaza,” a stream south of Gaza City. “You will not be allowed to return to Gaza City until a further announcement is made allowing you to do so,” the statement said.
The UN strongly called for the order to be lifted, saying the evacuation could lead to a “catastrophic situation” and have “devastating humanitarian consequences.” This would mean that the entire population of Gaza City and its surrounding area – about 1.1 million people – would be forced to leave their homes, the organization said.
About 1,200 people have been killed in Israel since the fighting began with a bloody Hamas attack on October 7. In the Gaza Strip, as a result of massive Israeli retaliatory strikes, according to local authorities, 1,417 people were killed.
Meanwhile, Russians are trying to return home from Israel:
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