IDF strikes homes of Hamas terrorists, hundreds of thousands flee Gaza: key facts of the war in Israel

As of October 13, the Israeli Defense Forces surrounded the Gaza Strip, depriving the enclave of water, electricity, and gas, and calling on 1.1 million Palestinians to leave the territory. In this way, the IDF continues to carry out intense strikes against Hamas, seeking to eliminate the terrorist group's cells.

On the seventh day of the war, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for a cessation of hostilities and the creation of a humanitarian corridor out of the Gaza Strip, warning that the health care system there is "at its limits." The UN criticized the Israeli military's warning. At this point, hundreds of thousands of people have already left the territory. OBOZ.UA is reporting on the key events of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict (to see the photos, scroll to the end).

IDF issued a warning to the Palestinians

At midnight on Friday, the Israel Defense Forces notified the United Nations that the entire Palestinian population north of Wadi Gaza must move to the southern part of the Gaza Strip within 24 hours.

The report indicates that the IDF may be ready to launch a ground invasion after six days of aerial bombardment in response to a massive Hamas offensive last Saturday.

According to the UN, approximately 1.1 million Palestinians are living north of Wadi Gaza. The military warning also applies to UN staff and others who remain in shelters in these areas.

As of Friday morning, Israel has surrounded Gaza; water, electricity and gas have been cut off; Israeli border crossings in the enclave have been closed; and the bombing of the Egyptian Rafah crossing continues, which has also temporarily made it inoperable.

Israel's goals

Ordering Gaza residents to evacuate, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari emphasized that Israel does not want to harm Palestinian civilians.

"We are fighting a terrorist group, not the people of Gaza. We want civilians to be safe, but we cannot live under the rule of Hamas and ISIS near our border," he said.

The military official said that the order to evacuate Palestinians from the area is intended to provide "freedom of action and increase the damage" to the militants, who "committed one of the most horrific acts the world has ever seen."

Thus, the IDF realizes that the evacuation process will take several days, but at the same time warns that "anyone who does not heed these recommendations is putting their family in danger."

According to him, there were several clashes between the Israeli military and terrorists along the border fence in the Gaza Strip the day before, but there were few such incidents in Israel. The IDF believes that they have managed to identify most of the militants who infiltrated last weekend and that no new terrorists have managed to infiltrate their territory in recent days.

Hagari also said that the IDF continues to focus its efforts on killing high-ranking Hamas members.

Israeli Ambassador criticises the UN

Israel's Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan has lashed out at the UN over its response to the IDF's warning to evacuate all Palestinians. The Organization called it "impossible to carry out such a movement without devastating humanitarian consequences."

In response, the Israeli ambassador said that the Organization had "turned a blind eye for years" to Hamas' arming and use of civilians and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip to kill and amass its weapons.

"Now, instead of supporting Israel, whose citizens have been killed by terrorists and who is still trying to minimize harm to civilians, the UN is 'teaching' only Israel. It would be better if the UN now focused on returning prisoners, condemning Hamas and supporting Israel's right to self-defense," Erdan said.

WHO warns of humanitarian catastrophe

"Time is running out to avert a humanitarian catastrophe if fuel and vital medical and humanitarian supplies cannot be urgently delivered to the Gaza Strip under the full blockade," the WHO said.

It said that hospitals in the enclave are forced to ration fuel supplies, which are running low, and rely on generators to maintain essential functions, but even these will have to cease in a few days when supplies run out.

According to the organization, last Saturday it documented 34 attacks on medical facilities in the sector, killing 11 medical workers on duty, injuring 16, and damaging 19 facilities and 20 ambulances. Against this backdrop, the WHO called for "a cessation of hostilities and the immediate establishment of a humanitarian corridor for the besieged enclave."

The Egyptian president refused to accept refugees from Gaza the day before, saying that they "should stay on their land".

As reported by OBOZ.UA, amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and the intensification of hostilities in Israel, the United States said it would be able to provide military assistance to both countries. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin noted that Washington would provide Tel Aviv with opportunities to fight Hamas terrorists and at the same time would not stop sending Kyiv weapons to defeat Russia.

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