Israel Gives Civiilains In Gaza 24 Hours Ultimatum
In a move that could signal an upcoming ground assault, Israel’s military has told people in northern Gaza to leave, which a United Nations spokesperson said was impossible without “devastating humanitarian consequences.”
The area includes Gaza City and encompasses some 1.1. million people, according to an IDF spokesperson and Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the U.N. Secretary-General.
A ground offensive has not been announced. IDF Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said in a video livestream Friday that civilians were being asked to leave for their own safety.
Also Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Israel, where he pledged that the U.S. “will always be there by your side,” as airstrikes in Gaza continued and deaths increased.
The number of dead in Israel from Hamas terror attacks on the country is more than 1,300 people. Twenty-seven Americans have been killed, officials in the U.S. said.
In Gaza, 1,537 people have been killed, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Crucial supplies in Gaza are running out. Israel has said its “complete siege” will not be lifted until Hamas releases the 100 to 150 people estimated to have been taken hostage.
The World Health Organization on Thursday warned that the health system in Gaza is at a breaking point.
“Time is running out to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe if fuel and life-saving health and humanitarian supplies cannot be urgently delivered,” the organization said. It said it has documented the deaths of 11 health workers on duty in attacks on Gaza.
Social media posts have called for a “Day of Rage” Friday. Former Hamas leader Khaled Mashal recently called for it to be a global day of “anger” in support of the attack on Israel.
Police departments around the U.S. said they were prepared but were not aware of any specific credible threats.
