Tel Aviv:Israel emphasized on Monday that it has no intention of compelling Palestinian civilians to permanently leave their homes, acknowledging, however, that conditions in Gaza are challenging.
The Israeli-Hamas war escalated after the brutal October 7 attacks by Hamas, resulting in Israel declaring war on the Gaza rulers. The toll on civilians reached 1,200, according to Israeli authorities.
Despite the collapse of the truce last week, which allowed for the release of hostages, Israel expanded its offensive in Gaza. The United Nations expressed concern about hundreds of thousands of Gazans being confined to smaller areas.
Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus stated, “We are not trying to displace anyone permanently. We have asked civilians to evacuate the battlefield and provided a designated humanitarian zone inside Gaza.”
With around 1.8 million people in Gaza displaced, international humanitarian organizations’ support is crucial for addressing the challenges in the region.
“There is no safe place in Gaza,” warned United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, while countries like Jordan and Egypt have expressed concerns about a potential wave of displacement.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed that people should be able to stay in Gaza.
By AFP
