Jerusalem, 13 October 2023 (GNP): The Israeli military ordered the evacuation of northern Gaza, where 1.1 million people lives, within 24 hours after a deadly attack on the Hamas militant group. The order suggested a possible upcoming ground offensive, but the Israeli military had not confirmed it.
The UN sought clarity from Israeli officials at the highest political level because the order could cause devastating humanitarian consequences.
Widespread panic ensued in north Gaza, an area home to nearly half of the territory’s population, as rumors of an evacuation started to circulate.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas expressed concern about a potential “second Nakba,” referring to the historical catastrophe faced by Palestinians following the evacuation order. The Nakba historically signifies the 1948 war that coincided with Israel’s establishment, leading to 760,000 Palestinians being displaced from their homes.
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Hamas launched an assault on Saturday and subsequent smaller attacks that resulted in over 1,300 casualties in Israel, including 247 soldiers. In response, Israeli airstrikes caused over 1,530 fatalities in Gaza. Israel reported around 1,500 Hamas militants killed inside its borders, and stated that many of the casualties in Gaza were Hamas members. Additionally, thousands of people on both sides sustained injuries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to “crush” Hamas after the militants infiltrated the southern part of the country on Saturday, leading to the killing of hundreds, including children in their homes and young people at a music festival. The airstrikes by Israel caused a sudden 25% increase in the number of people displaced from their homes, with 423,000 out of a population of 2.3 million forced to flee.
A visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, along with shipments of US weapons, offered a powerful green light to Israel to drive ahead with its retaliation in Gaza after Hamas’ deadly attack on civilians and soldiers, even as international aid groups warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Israel has halted deliveries of basic necessities and electricity to Gaza’s 2.3 million people and prevented entry of supplies from Egypt.
“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,” Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said on social media.
Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters Thursday that forces “are preparing for a ground maneuver” should political leaders order one.
