Thousands of Palestinians fled to southern Gaza in search of refuge on Friday after Israel issued an evacuation order, warning of an expected ground offensive against Hamas in retaliation for a recent attack. Israel has amassed tanks near the Gaza Strip.
The health ministry reported that missile strikes on the densely populated enclave have killed nearly 1,800 Gazans, including over 580 children.
According to Israel, Hamas took approximately 150 hostages, including Israelis, foreigners, and dual nationals during its initial attack. Hamas reported that the Israeli airstrikes killed 13 hostages, further complicating the potential ground attack from Israel.
Tensions escalated across the Middle East and beyond, with protests in support of the Palestinians and concerns about a separate confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In the West Bank, Israeli fire killed at least nine Palestinians during protests in support of Gaza, bringing the total to 44 since Saturday, according to the health ministry.
The Israeli military warned that it would operate “significantly” in Gaza City in the coming days, and civilians could only return after another announcement was made. The military claimed that Hamas terrorists were using civilians as human shields.
The United Nations described the immediate evacuation of around 1.1 million people, nearly half of Gaza’s population, as “impossible” and urgently appealed for the order to be rescinded. Aid agencies raised concerns about the strain on resources, given fuel, food, and water shortages due to the Israeli blockade.
Hospitals in Gaza were struggling to cope with the dead and wounded, and the health system was at a “breaking point,” according to the World Health Organization. Medicine was running low, and hospitals were losing capacity.
