Palestinians scramble to flee south in Gaza as Israel urges a mass evacuation and conducts raids

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Palestinians in northern Gaza found themselves in a dire situation on Saturday as the Israeli military ordered a mass evacuation and carried out limited ground operations in anticipation of a larger land offensive. This move followed a bloody and wide-ranging attack by Hamas into Israel a week earlier.

Israel intensified its calls for approximately 1 million Gaza residents to relocate southward through social media and leaflets dropped from aircraft, while Hamas advised people to remain in their homes. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations expressed concerns about the rapid evacuation, fearing it would result in immense human suffering, with hospital patients and others unable to move to safety.

Amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes that were depleting essential supplies of food, fuel, and drinking water due to a complete siege, families packed their belongings into cars, trucks, and donkey carts, creating a congested scene on the main road leading away from Gaza City.

Egyptian authorities announced the reopening of the southern Rafah crossing to allow foreigners to exit the region, while Israel stated that Palestinians could travel within Gaza safely along two main routes during specified hours. However, the destruction of roads by airstrikes and a shortage of fuel complicated these journeys.

Thousands of displaced individuals sought shelter in a U.N.-run school in Deir al-Balah, a town south of the evacuation zone, where many slept on the ground without proper bedding or accommodations.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military conducted temporary raids into Gaza to combat militants and search for approximately 150 people, including men, women, and children, who were abducted during Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported a devastating toll, with over 2,200 people killed in the territory, including 724 children and 458 women. On the Israeli side, more than 1,300 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the Hamas assault, with around 1,500 Hamas militants also losing their lives during the conflict.

As tensions escalated, Israel called up 360,000 reserves and amassed troops and tanks along the Gaza border. However, there was no official decision regarding a ground offensive, which could lead to even higher casualties in densely populated Gaza.

Despite the grim situation, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a meeting with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, emphasized the need for Israel to protect civilians in Gaza. Hamas claimed that Israel’s airstrikes had killed 13 hostages, while the Israeli military denied the allegation.

The situation in the occupied West Bank also remained precarious, with 53 Palestinians killed since the start of the conflict, and attacks by Israeli settlers surging in response to the Hamas assault.

In summary, the situation in Gaza remained dire as Palestinians faced the choice of evacuating to the south amid Israeli military operations or staying in their homes, where supplies were dwindling, and airstrikes continued to wreak havoc. The international community expressed concerns over the humanitarian crisis, and the region remained on the brink of further escalation.

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• Gaza Crisis: Palestinians Urged to Evacuate Amid Israeli Military Operations
• International Concerns Grow Over Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
• Casualty Toll Rises in Gaza Conflict
• Israel’s Mobilization and the Possibility of a Ground Offensive
• Impact of Gaza Crisis on the Occupied West Bank