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Israel wants 1.1 million Gazans to move in next 24 hours, says UN

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Summary

  1. The UN says it has been told by Israel that everyone in north Gaza should relocate to the south in the next 24 hours
  2. The area includes densely populated Gaza City and will affect about 1.1 million people – around half of the Gaza Strip’s population
  3. The UN says it is “impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences” and has called on Israel to rescind evacuation orders
  4. The warning comes as Israel is expected to launch a ground offensive into Gaza to root out militant group Hamas
  5. Hamas kidnapped at least 150 people and took them into Gaza during deadly attacks on Israel at the weekend that killed 1,300 people
  6. More than 1,400 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched retaliatory air strikes, Palestinian health officials say
  7. The bombardment comes amid a total blockade. Israel says it won’t lift the restrictions unless Hamas frees all hostages
  8. Aid agencies say Gaza is facing a “dire” situation with food and water quickly running out and 50,000 pregnant women unable to access essential services

Posted at 7:497:49

Where is Wadi Gaza?

As we’ve reported, the Israeli military has told the UN that everyone living north of Wadi Gaza should relocate in the next 24 hours – the UN says this amounts to about 1.1 million people.

The Wadi Gaza is a river valley located around the centre of the Gaza Strip, snaking across its entire width and ending in the Mediterranean Sea. It is known for its coastal wetlands and biodiversity.

This close-up of a UN map, where Wadi Gaza is represented by a brown dotted line at the bottom, shows that the area affected by Israel’s evacuation order includes Gaza City, the enclave’s largest city.

Close-up of UN OCHA map of Gaza Strip

UN OCHACopyright: UN OCHA

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Posted at 7:167:16

Israel envoy says UN response to evacuation order is ‘shameful’

In the last few minutes Israel has issued a response to the UN, defending its evacuation order and saying the international body’s statement was “shameful”.

Gilad Erdan, the country’s ambassador to the UN, said Israel was giving an early warning to the residents of Gaza and was trying to “minimise harm to those not involved” in its military operation against Hamas.

“For many years, the UN has turned a blind eye to the arming of Hamas and its use of the civilian population and civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip as a hiding place for its weapons and murder,” he said.

“Now, instead of standing by Israel, whose citizens were slaughtered by Hamas terrorists… it preaches to Israel,” said Mr Erdan.

“It is better for the UN to focus now on returning the hostages, condemning Hamas, and supporting Israel’s right to defend itself,” he added.

Posted at 6:436:43

UN strongly appeals for evacuation order to be rescinded

We have more from the UN’s statement released to the media in the past hour.

It said the UN “strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation”.

Liaison officers in the Israeli military had told UN team leaders in Gaza about the evacuation order. That order also includes all UN staff and those sheltered in UN facilities which includes schools, health centres, and clinics.

The UN Security Council is due to hold an emergency meeting on Friday afternoon in a closed consultation format. The US, UK, China, Russia, and France are permanent members of the UN Security Council. 

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Posted at 6:196:19

BREAKINGIsrael wants 1.1 million people in north Gaza to leave in next 24 hours – UN

The Israeli military has told the UN that everyone living north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza in the next 24 hours, says a UN spokesperson.

The UN says this amounts to approximately 1.1 million people – about half the population of the entire Gaza Strip. The affected area includes densely populated Gaza City.

The alert was given just before midnight, Gaza and Jerusalem time (23:00 GMT). 

“The United Nations considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences,” the UN said in a statement. 

Israel has been preparing for a ground offensive, gathering soldiers, heavy artillery and tanks on the border of Gaza. It has been launching airstrikes on Gaza since Saturday after Hamas militants’ surprise attack on Israel.

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Posted at 5:395:39

‘Even Hollywood can’t describe the horrors we have seen’ – Israeli volunteer

BBC Conflict Podcast

BBCCopyright: BBC

“Not even a studio in Hollywood can make a horror movie to describe what we have seen here,” an Israeli volunteer has told the BBC’s international editor Jeremy Bowen. 

The volunteer was among a team clearing debris in shattered buildings and collecting bodies in an Israeli kibbutz that is right by the Gaza Strip. 

“We’re here to give them a proper Jewish burial. To take care of them properly,” he said. 

Also, our chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet has spoken to the mayor of the Israeli town Sderot and asked how he wanted his country to respond to the Hamas attack. Our Middle East correspondent Tom Bateman also gave his reflections on his seven years of reporting from Jerusalem.

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