Gaza/Jerusalem (Union)
Thousands of Palestinians fled the northern Gaza Strip yesterday from the path of an expected Israeli ground invasion, while Israel continues to bombard the area with more air strikes, and said it would keep two roads open to allow residents to flee.
Israel gave all residents of the northern half of the Gaza Strip until yesterday morning to head toward the south. This half includes Gaza City, which represents the largest residential community in the Strip.
“In the vicinity of the Gaza Strip, Israeli reserve soldiers in military formations are preparing for the next phase of operations,” Israeli army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said in a video briefing early yesterday.
Yesterday, an Agence France-Presse journalist monitored the stationing of many types of Israeli tanks and military vehicles on the border with the Gaza Strip.
Residents living in the northern Gaza Strip left in cars, on motorcycles, in trucks, donkey carts, and on foot, heading south. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel to “avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.” He told reporters: “The situation in Gaza has reached a dangerous level,” stressing that “the health system is on the verge of collapse.”
In New York, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations called for a “humanitarian ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip and Israel.
A draft resolution submitted by Russia to the UN Security Council stipulated an “immediate” ceasefire and the release of all hostages, strongly condemning “all acts of violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a statement that it received an order from the Israeli forces yesterday to evacuate Al-Quds Hospital by four in the afternoon, but it will not implement the order because it is obligated under a humanitarian mandate to continue providing services to the sick and wounded.
The only way out of Gaza that is not under Israeli control is the Rafah crossing with Egypt. Egypt officially says its side is open, but traffic has been halted for days due to Israeli strikes. Egyptian security sources said that security is being strengthened on the Egyptian side of the crossing.
Countries and relief agencies have sent supplies to Egypt, but have not yet been able to bring them into the Strip. Israel says that nothing can enter through the Rafah crossing without coordination with it.
The Gaza Strip is one of the most crowded places in the world, and Israel’s order to evacuate the northern half of the Strip means that those fleeing toward the south are forced to take shelter with relatives and friends in schools or rush to take shelter in rented apartments. The United Nations says that it is not possible for such a large number of people to move safely within the besieged Strip without causing a humanitarian disaster.
Yesterday, the US administration advised its citizens in Gaza to move south towards the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, to be prepared for its possible reopening in light of the humanitarian crisis in the coastal strip.
Beijing calls for an international peace meeting
Yesterday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for “an international peace meeting to be held as soon as possible on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, to promote a broad consensus.”
He stated in a phone call with his American counterpart, Anthony Blinken, that “the main way out for the Palestinian issue lies in implementing the two-state solution.”
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, yesterday, stated that China’s special envoy to the Middle East met with representatives of the Arab League in China, in an emergency session regarding the crisis in the Gaza Strip.
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