The UN warned that ordering almost half the Gaza population to flee en masse would be calamitous, and it urged Israel to reverse the unprecedented directive.
In the week-old war, the Gaza Health Ministry said Friday that roughly 1,900 people have been killed in the territory — more than half of them under the age of 18, or women. In Israel, the public remained in shock over the Hamas rampage and frightened by continual rocket fire out of Gaza. If carried out, that would mean the territory's entire population would have to cram into the southern half of the 40-kilometre strip.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said it would be impossible to stage such an evacuation without "devastating humanitarian consequences."Hamas' media office said airstrikes hit cars in three locations as they headed south from Gaza City, killing 70 people.Two witnesses reported a strike on fleeing cars near the town of Deir el-Balah, south of the evacuation zone and in the area Israel told people to flee to.
"Where is the sense of security in Gaza? Is this what Hamas is offering us?" said one resident, Tarek Mraish, standing by an avenue as vehicles flowed by.