Is Israel’s Ultimatum To Gazans & UN To Evacuate An Indication Of A Ground Assault?

New Delhi: The Israeli military has asked over a million Gazans and UN officials to relocate south within 24 hours, indicating that Israel may soon begin a deadly ground assault. The United Nations warned of “devastating consequences.”

Israel’s message to Gazans

Israeli military has started massing up its tanks near the border and ordered the evacuation of civilians from the Gaza city. “Residents of Gaza, move south for your personal safety and your families. Distance yourself from the Hamas terrorists who use you as a human shield. IDF will continue to operate significantly in Gaza City in the coming days, and wishes to avoid harming civilians,” the Israeli Defence Force said. Gaza shares its boundary with Egypt in the south and with Israel in the north and east.

UN’s message to Israel

The UN has called on the Israeli military to take back the mass relocation order for Gazans to avoid the tragedy from turning into a “calamitous situation”. “The UN considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences,” it said. The UN has moved its operations to southern Gaza after it said the order would be applicable even to UN staff and those sheltered in UN facilities like schools and clinics.

US diplomat Antony Blinken visited Tel Aviv on THursday and assured his country’s support to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said he was shown horrifying photos of “baby riddled with bullets” and “soldiers beheaded”. The US has confirmed the death of at least 22 Americans in Israel.