The IDF has ordered the residents of Gaza to leave the city, as reported by The Times of Israel, citing IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari.
"We are fighting against a terrorist group, not the population of Gaza. We want the civilian population to remain unharmed, but we cannot coexist with HAMAS-ISIS near our border," Hagari stated in a phone conversation with journalists.
He added that after the evacuation of civilians, the IDF will be able to operate more freely, enabling them to inflict more serious damage to HAMAS.
Earlier, the press secretary of the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, reported the order from the Israeli army. He stated that the representatives of the organization in Gaza had been informed by Israeli military that the civilian population should evacuate to the southern sector within 24 hours, according to Reuters.
The UN has called for the cancellation of this order, emphasizing that it involves the displacement of more than a million people. Dujarric added, "The UN deems it impossible for such a displacement to occur without devastating humanitarian consequences."
In response, Israel's representative to the UN, Gilad Erdan, criticized the organization's response. He said, "The UN's reaction to Israel's early warning to the residents of Gaza is shameful! For years, the UN turned a blind eye to Hamas arming and using the civilian population to hide weapons. And now, instead of supporting Israel after the massacre committed by Hamas, they are preaching to us when Israel is trying to minimize harm to the civilian population." Erdan also added that the UN should focus on the return of people taken hostage by militants.
However, the representative of the IDF, Daniel Hagari, in a conversation with journalists, noted that Israel understands that the relocation of civilians "will take several days."
In the published announcement by the Israel Defense Forces, which is said to be distributed in the Gaza Strip, residents are urged to leave the city because the IDF intends to continue the operation in Gaza. The announcement does not specify when people should leave the city, but it states that they will only be able to return after a corresponding announcement is made. Israeli military also emphasized that they are fighting against Hamas, which uses civilians as shields, and called on people to evacuate "for their safety."
