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Israel’s military has issued a directive to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip, home to 1.1 million people, approximately half of the territory’s population, within a 24-hour timeframe, according to a statement from a U.N. spokesman. While the Israeli military has not officially confirmed the possibility of a ground offensive, this mass evacuation order hints at an impending large-scale operation against Hamas militants in the area.
The evacuation directive, delivered to the U.N., has raised concerns of devastating humanitarian consequences, as expressed by U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric. The situation underscores the escalating tension and the fragile living conditions for the Palestinian population in Gaza.
In recent days, Israel has intensified its offensive against Hamas militants, pulverizing the Gaza Strip with a series of airstrikes. The Israeli military has also prepared for a potential ground invasion of the territory. Additionally, Israel has maintained a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, causing severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicine, further exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation.
The Israeli government has declared that the complete siege will persist until Hamas militants release approximately 150 hostages taken during a violent incursion over the weekend. This action has left Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants in an increasingly desperate situation.
The visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, along with shipments of U.S. weapons to Israel, has effectively given the green light for Israel to continue its retaliation against Hamas following the group’s deadly attack on both civilians and soldiers. However, international aid organizations have raised alarm bells about a deepening humanitarian crisis.
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Israel has halted deliveries of basic necessities and cut off the supply of electricity to Gaza’s population. It has also barred the entry of vital supplies from Egypt.
Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz stated on social media, “Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on, and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home.”
Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, revealed that forces are actively preparing for a potential ground operation should political leaders decide to proceed with such an action. A ground offensive in the densely populated Gaza Strip, ruled by Hamas, could lead to even higher casualties on both sides, as it would likely involve brutal house-to-house fighting.
The conflict, which was triggered by Hamas’ attack last Saturday and subsequent smaller-scale attacks, has resulted in a devastating toll on both sides. In Israel, more than 1,300 people have been killed, including 247 soldiers, marking a level of loss not seen in the country for decades. Simultaneously, the Israeli bombardment has led to more than 1,530 casualties in Gaza, according to reports from authorities on both sides.
Israel asserts that around 1,500 Hamas militants were killed within its territory, and it claims that a significant number of the casualties in Gaza are Hamas members. The conflict has also left thousands injured on both sides.
As Israel continues to carry out airstrikes in Gaza, Hamas militants have launched thousands of rockets into Israel. Concerns are growing about the potential for the conflict to spread in the region, with Syrian state media reporting that Israeli airstrikes have disrupted operations at two Syrian international airports.