Residents of Northern Gaza have been instructed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to evacuate southward for the duration of the war. As confirmed on Friday at 7:20 a.m. local time by IDF Spokesperson Lt. Col. (res.) Jonathan Conricus, Israel had communicated messages to local residents and the U.N. has been informed. Israel gave residents 24 hours to evacuate, but the U.N. responded: “The United Nations considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences. The United Nations strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation.” Israel’s U.N. ambassador Gilad Erdan condemned the U.N., saying, “The UN’s response to Israel’s early warning to the residents of Gaza is a disgrace!” Egypt has urged Gaza residents to stay and refused to allow large numbers to leave the Strip. The warning for residents of Gaza to leave signals a ground invasion is imminent.
