Palestinians head to southern Gaza as Israel prepares for ground invasion
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| Palestinians head to southern Gaza as Israel prepares for ground invasion |
More than one million Palestinians residing in northern Gaza were ordered by Israel to evacuate southwards with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Israel had just started to retaliate for the recent Hamas attack in southern Israel.
Additionally, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is busy holding discussions with regional governments about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, trapped Palestinians are suffering from a power blackout and shortages of food and water amidst the fierce Israeli bombing.
Over 1,300 people were killed in a Hamas attack on Israel, mainly civilians.
Some 458 women were among those martyred, the ministry said. It added that 8,714 people have also been wounded, after an earlier statement said at least 324 people were martyred in the past 24 hours alone.
Hamas took approximately 150 hostages, including Israelis, foreigners, and those with dual nationality, during the initial attack.
More than one million residents of northern Gaza on Friday received 24 hours' notice from Israel to flee south before an expected ground offensive. Hamas vowed to fight to the last drop of blood and urged residents to stay.