Hamas Urges Palestinians to Remain in Homes Following Israel’s Extensive Evacuation Directives in Gaza

Hamas has advised Palestinians to stay within their residences after Israel announced comprehensive evacuation orders across Gaza.

The Hamas Bureau for Refugee Affairs encouraged inhabitants of northern Gaza on Friday to “maintain their positions in their homes, resisting the insidious psychological warfare perpetrated by the occupying forces.”

Additional Details on Israel-Hamas Conflict

Israel has mandated the evacuation of 1.1 million individuals from the northern area of Gaza, according to the United Nations.
Live Reports: Israel directs hundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza City to relocate.
A survivor of a music festival narrowly escapes the violence, two Hamas militants make a fatal choice.

Israel has ordered a mass evacuation from northern Gaza, including Gaza City, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. Palestinians have only the option to move towards the southern part of Gaza, as Israel has fully cordoned off the region.

Breaking News Update

Earlier reports by the Associated Press indicate that Israel’s armed forces issued broad evacuation orders affecting nearly half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population on Friday. This move comes in anticipation of a potential ground operation aimed at eliminating Hamas militants, following their devastating attack on Israel. The directives have incited fear and confusion among civilians and humanitarian workers already grappling with Israeli aerial attacks and a blockade.

The Israeli military issued its first evacuation directive in the morning, advising civilians in Gaza City to move farther south into the Gaza Strip. The directive alleges that Hamas militants are concealed in underground tunnels beneath the city.

“For your own safety, you must evacuate,” declared the Israeli military in a warning aimed at the residents of Gaza City.

The United Nations has reported receiving another directive from the Israeli military just before midnight on Thursday, New York time, giving 1.1 million civilians in northern Gaza 24 hours to move south.

“In the current chaotic environment, people are at a loss about what steps to take,” remarked Inas Hamdan, an official at the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency in Gaza City. She disclosed that all U.N. personnel in Gaza City and the northern regions were instructed to evacuate towards Rafah.

Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza City, emphasized that it was practically impossible to safely move over a million people in such a brief time frame.

“Basic necessities like food, electricity, and fuel are now secondary concerns. The immediate priority is simply survival,” Farsakh stated emotionally.

“What about our patients in the hospitals?” Farsakh questioned. “We have individuals who are wounded, elderly, and children under medical care.” She added that many medical staff are refusing to abandon their posts and patients, instead opting to bid farewell to their colleagues.

The multiple directives are seen as a precursor to an expected Israeli ground invasion, although there has been no official confirmation from the Israeli military. On Thursday, they indicated that preparations were underway but a final decision had yet to be made.

Israeli military spokesperson Jonathan Conricus stated that the Israeli forces would execute operations with “considerable force” in Gaza and urged civilians to evacuate to enable strikes against Hamas militants. He emphasized that extensive precautions would be taken to prevent civilian casualties.

The United Nations warned of “devastating humanitarian consequences” should the mass evacuation proceed, urging the Israeli government to rescind the order.

“This situation is entirely unprecedented,” an anonymous U.N. official commented, expressing the organization’s attempts to seek clarification from senior Israeli authorities.

A ground operation in the densely populated area of Gaza is likely to result in increased casualties on both sides due to the confined nature of urban warfare.

As Israel continues its aerial bombardment of Gaza, Hamas has retaliated by firing thousands of rockets into Israeli territory. Meanwhile, the violence has led to international concerns that the conflict may escalate regionally.

According to sources from both sides, the conflict has already resulted in significant casualties. Israel has reported over 1,300 deaths, including 247 soldiers, while Palestinian authorities state that more than 1,530 people have been killed in Gaza, with thousands injured on both sides.

Amidst public outrage and demands for retribution, the Israeli government is facing intense pressure to overthrow Hamas instead of merely containing it within Gaza.

The United Nations revealed that the number of individuals displaced due to Israeli airstrikes has risen by 25% within a day, now standing at 423,000 out of a population of 2.3 million.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit and subsequent shipments of U.S. arms appear to have given Israel the green light to continue its retaliatory actions in Gaza. This comes despite warnings from international humanitarian organizations about an escalating humanitarian crisis.

Israel has stopped all deliveries of basic supplies and electricity to Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants and has also blocked the entry of aid from Egypt.

“No utilities will be restored, and no fuel supplies will be allowed until Israeli hostages are returned,” announced Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesperson, disclosed that preparations are underway for a potential ground maneuver, pending orders from political leaders.

Contributions to this report were made by Shurafa from Gaza City, Gaza Strip, and Lederer from Chicago, among other reporters.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Israel-Hamas Conflict

More about Israel-Hamas Conflict

• United Nations Official Statement on Gaza Evacuation
• Israeli Defense Forces Press Release
• Hamas Official Website Statement
• U.S. Department of State Briefing on Gaza Situation
• International Red Cross Report on Gaza Humanitarian Crisis
• Syrian State Media Reports on Israeli Airstrikes
• UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) Updates on Gaza
• Palestinian Red Crescent Official Statement