ISRAEL TO GAZA RESIDENTS: “EVACUATE TO SOUTH GAZA”
MORE THAN A MILLION PALESTINIANS LIVING IN NORTHERN GAZA ARE ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT – AFTER ISRAEL’S MILITARY WARNED PEOPLE OVERNIGHT TO EVACUATE WITHIN 24 HOURS.
ISRAEL DROPPING THOUSANDS OF EVACUATION LEAFLETS – OVER GAZA CITY – URGING RESIDENTS THERE TO MOBILIZE TO THE SOUTH.
(JONATHAN CONRICUS / IDF SPOKESPERSON)
“hamas terrorists are hiding in gaza city, inside tunnels, underneath houses and inside buildings populated with innocent gaza civilians. civilians of gaza city, evacuate south for your own safety and the safety of your families. and distance yourself from hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields.”
MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE CALL GAZA “HOME” – AND NEARLY HALF OF THEM ARE CHILDREN.
ISRAEL PUT GAZA UNDER FULL SIEGE – CUTTING OFF WATER, ELECTRICITY, FOOD AND FUEL TO THE AREA – AFTER HAMAS MILITANTS LAUNCHED A TERROR ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL LAST SATURDAY.
RIGHT NOW — MUCH OF GAZA IS WITHOUT RUNNING WATER OR LIGHTS… AND OFFICIALS WARN THAT HOSPITALS WILL TURN INTO MORGUES.
ISRAEL’S MILITARY IS WARNING HAMAS – THAT SUPPLIES IN GAZA WILL DWINDLE UNLESS THEY RELEASE THEIR HOSTAGES.
BUT PALESTINIANS LIVING IN THE COASTAL ENCLAVE – DON’T HAVE A PLACE TO GO – AND UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS WARN – THE CITY WILL FACE AN UNIMAGINABLE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.
IF GAZA RESIDENTS EVACUATE SOUTH – THEY CAN’T GET OUT OF GAZA THROUGH THE RAFAH CROSSING IN EGYPT.
EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS ARE KEEPING THE BORDER CROSSING CLOSED – AS IT’S MOSTLY BEEN TO GAZA PALESTINIANS SINCE HAMAS TOOK CONTROL OF GAZA IN 2007.
EGYPT’S PRESIDENT SPOKE THURSDAY – SAYING HE FEARS THE CONFLICT WILL BECOME EGYPT’S PROBLEM IF HE OPENS THE RAFAH CROSSING.
U-S SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN IS ON A TRIP TO THE MIDDLE EAST – MEETING WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS — AND ENCOURAGED EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS TO OPEN THE RAFAH CROSSING FOR INNOCENT GAZA CIVILIANS TRYING TO ESCAPE.
EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL OPEN A HUMANITARIAN CORRIDOR TO FACILITATE AID INTO GAZA.
TURKEY’S FOREIGN MINISTRY ACCUSES ISRAEL OF BEING INHUMANE AND VIOLATING INTERNATIONAL LAW – FOR EVACUATING NORTHERN GAZA.
TURKEY’S PRESIDENT ERDOGAN – SPOKE FROM ISTANBUL FRIDAY MORNING – ENCOURAGING ISRAELI OFFICIALS TO OPEN THE RAFAH CROSSING TO ALLOW HUMANITARIAN AID INTO THE ENCLAVE.
(PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOGAN / TURKEY)
“The Israeli administration needs to allow humanitarian aid passage through the Rafah gate. We have sent a humanitarian aid plane carrying medicine, durable foods, canned goods, baby diapers, water, medical material to the Al Arish airport this morning.”
ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS…
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR MORE THAN A MILLION GAZA RESIDENTS TO LEAVE THE COASTAL ENCLAVE.
AT LEAST 1,537 GAZA RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN KILLED —
AND 338-THOUSAND HAVE BEEN DISPLACED SINCE THE WAR STARTED.
MEANWHILE – HAMAS IS TELLING GAZANS NOT TO LEAVE GAZA – AS
ISRAELI FORCES CONTINUE PREPPING FOR A POSSIBLE A GROUND INCURSION.