Over a million Palestinians ordered to relocate amid rising casualties

According to Gaza Strip’s health ministry, Israeli air assaults result deaths of 1,799 Palestinians, including over 400 children in just a week, and  6,388 wounded

GAZA, Palestine – In a startling move, the Israeli army has instructed more than 1 million Palestinians in Gaza’s northern region to head south, stoking fears of an impending ground assault.

The U.N. has highlighted that executing such a massive relocation within the 24-hour notice provided by Israel is practically “impossible”.

According to the Gaza Strip’s health ministry, Israeli air assaults have resulted in the deaths of 1,799 Palestinians, including over 400 children in just a week, and left 6,388 wounded.

In contrast, the death toll in Israel, following Hamas’s Saturday attack, exceeds 1,300, with around 3,400 injured.

Adding to the tension, Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas disclosed that Israeli bombardment killed 13 of the Israeli prisoners they held within a 24-hour span.

Meanwhile, during protests in support of Gaza, Israeli forces killed eight Palestinians across various locations, including the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Media outlets in Gaza City, reported an agonizing scene of thousands migrating, most on foot, carrying essentials and their children.

The journey, typically 15 minutes, extended to almost two hours. The majority, however, remain reluctant to evacuate, questioning the existence of safer locations in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas fervently opposed the forced displacement, likening it to a “second Nakba”. During Israel’s establishment in 1948, the Nakba saw around 760,000 Palestinians either fleeing or being expelled from their homes.

Izzat Al-Rishq, a Hamas political bureau member, decried the Israeli threats, emphasizing the Palestinian spirit’s resilience.

He insinuated that the directives serve as evidence of the Israeli regime’s failure against the steadfast resistance of the Palestinians.

In international reactions, Turkey strongly denounced Israel’s evacuation order, terming it a clear breach of international law, while China’s Wang Yi attributed the Israel-Hamas conflict’s root to “historical injustice” against Palestinians.

Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the U.N.’s Palestinian refugee agency, described the Gaza Strip’s situation as dire, cautioning its potential to spiral into a humanitarian catastrophe.

“The scale and speed of the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza is bone-chilling,” he said.

The U.S. has visibly thrown its weight behind Israel. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, currently in Israel, reaffirmed unwavering support. He, however, emphasized that democracies uphold the laws of war, contrasting it against tactics used by terrorists.

“It is time to resolve and not revenge,” he said.

“In times like these, sometimes the best thing that a friend can do is just to show up and to get to work,” said Austin.

Meanwhile the U.N. said it will take time to verify claims that Israel was using white phosphorus in Gaza.

Human Rights Watch claims to have verified videos showcasing the utilization of white phosphorus over Gaza and Lebanon.

The Arab League has urged the U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to intervene against Israel’s evacuation order, labeling it a war crime.

The European Commission, indicated its readiness to initiate humanitarian corridors to Gaza, addressing the acute shortage of essentials.

Experts said amidst these complexities, one thing remains clear: the pressing need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a durable solution to this long-standing conflict.