One million people from Gaza have been displaced after the first seven days of conflict, a UN agency helping Palestinian refugees has said.
Since Hamas’ disgusting multi-front attack on Israel last Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s troops have launched an aggressive bombing campaign against Gaza, bringing entire neighbourhoods to the ground.
The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted, more than in the 2014 Gaza war, which lasted over six weeks.
Israel recently warned 1.1 million Palestinians living in north Gaza to evacuate, prompting thousands to flee the area on foot or by vehicle.
Hospitals in Gaza City have said it’s impossible for them to evacuate thousands of sick and injured patients and that there aren’t enough hospitals in the south to treat them.
UN human rights expert Paula Gaviria Betancur instructed Israel to rescind its evacuation of northern Israel, warning that it is illegal.
She said: “Forcible population transfers constitute a crime against humanity, and collective punishment is prohibited under international humanitarian law.
“We are horrified at the prospect of an additional 1 million Palestinians joining the over 423,000 people already forcibly driven from their homes by the violence over the past week.
“It is inconceivable that more than half of Gaza’s population could traverse an active war zone, without devastating humanitarian consequences, particularly while deprived of essential supplies and basic services.”
It comes as Israel raises the death toll of those killed in Hamas’ terrorist attacks to more than 1,400.
This is a live blog. See below for the latest updates.