Francesca Albanese, the United Nations particular rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, known as that message a menace to collectively punish Palestinian civilians who have been unwilling or unable to maneuver south. She stated it might probably quantity to ethnic cleaning.
In response to questions from The New York Instances, the Israeli navy stated in a press release that it “treats civilians as such, and doesn’t goal them.” A spokesman for Israel’s International Ministry stated there was no foundation for the suggestion that its evacuation warnings might quantity to ethnic cleaning.
Regardless of Israel’s warnings to go away, many civilians in northern Gaza stated that doing so was unattainable due to the fee, and that shifting south was no assure of security.
Amani Abu Odeh, who lives within the city of Jabalia in Gaza’s north, stated that the chance of Israeli airstrikes on the street meant that drivers have been now charging $200 to $300 to take a household south. Earlier than the warfare, the identical journey price about $3 an individual, she stated.
“We will’t even afford to eat,” Ms. Abu Odeh stated. “We don’t have the cash to go away.” As an alternative, 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, stated he was not shifting 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 stated.
He stated his cousin had moved south with members of his household after airstrikes on Gaza Metropolis. However every week in the past, he stated, 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 take into account us members of Hamas if we don’t evacuate,” Mr. Shaban stated. “However I merely can’t go south.”
