Francesca Albanese, the United Nations particular rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, referred to as that message a risk to collectively punish Palestinian civilians who have been unwilling or unable to maneuver south. She mentioned it might presumably quantity to ethnic cleaning.
In response to questions from The New York Occasions, the Israeli army mentioned in a press release that it “treats civilians as such, and doesn’t goal them.” A spokesman for Israel’s International Ministry mentioned there was no foundation for the suggestion that its evacuation warnings might quantity to ethnic cleaning.
Regardless of Israel’s warnings to depart, many civilians in northern Gaza mentioned that doing so was not possible due to the associated fee, and that transferring south was no assure of security.
Amani Abu Odeh, who lives within the city of Jabalia in Gaza’s north, mentioned that the danger of Israeli airstrikes on the highway meant that drivers have been now charging $200 to $300 to take a household south. Earlier than the battle, the identical journey price about $3 an individual, she mentioned.
“We are able to’t even afford to eat,” Ms. Abu Odeh mentioned. “We don’t have the cash to depart.” As a substitute, she and different members of her prolonged household have hunkered down collectively in a single dwelling.
Yasser Shaban, 57, a civil servant in Gaza Metropolis, mentioned he was not transferring south “primarily as a result of I do know nobody there; the place am I to go?”
“We are going to find yourself within the streets,” Mr. Shaban mentioned.
He mentioned his cousin had moved south with members of his household after airstrikes on Gaza Metropolis. However per week in the past, he mentioned, an Israeli airstrike hit the constructing the place they have been sheltering within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis, killing the cousin’s spouse and two daughters.
“I heard of the brand new leaflets saying they may think about us members of Hamas if we don’t evacuate,” Mr. Shaban mentioned. “However I merely can’t go south.”