Palestinians sought refuge Saturday after Israel warned them to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip before an expected ground offensive against Hamas, one week after the deadliest attack in Israel's history.
Israeli ground forces massed near Gaza have made"localised" raids into the enclave"to cleanse the area of terrorists and weaponry" and try to find"missing persons", the army said.
The Hamas attack has upended Middle Eastern politics, prompting efforts by the United States and others to avert a wider war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the bombardment so far was"just the beginning" of Israel's vow to crush Hamas, a group which seeks the destruction of Israel and which he has likened to the Islamic State group.
Tensions have risen across the Middle East and beyond, with angry protests in support of the Palestinians, while Israel faces the threat of a separate confrontation with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Thousands also demonstrated in support of the Palestinians on Friday in Beirut, Iraq, Iran and in Jordan.
"Even wars have rules," Guterres said."International humanitarian law and human rights law must be respected and upheld; civilians must be protected and also never used as shields." In Geneva, the Red Cross said the unjustifiable"horrific" attacks on Israel could equally not justify"the limitless destruction of Gaza".
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said it will be"tantamount to a second Nakba" or"catastrophe", referring to the 760,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes during the 1948 war that accompanied Israel's creation.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Palestinians flee northern Gaza after Israel orders one million to evacuate as ground attack loomsAs airstrikes hammered the territory throughout the day as families in cars, trucks and donkey carts packed the main road out.
Read more »
Australians fly to Israel to join war as Palestinians urged to flee to southern GazaA senior Israeli official confirmed some Australian residents were among the 360,000 reservists who have been called up to fight against Hamas.
Read more »
Australians fly to Israel to join war as Palestinians urged to flee to southern GazaA senior Israeli official confirmed some Australian residents were among the 360,000 reservists who have been called up to fight against Hamas.
Read more »
Australians fly to Israel to join war as Palestinians urged to flee to southern GazaA senior Israeli official confirmed some Australian residents were among the 360,000 reservists who have been called up to fight against Hamas.
Read more »
Thousands of Palestinians flee northern Gaza after Israel orders 1.1 million people to evacuateThousands of Palestinians flee to southern Gaza in search of refuge after Israel warns them to leave before an expected ground offensive against Hamas in retaliation for the deadliest attack in Israel's history.
Read more »