Israeli military directs 1.1 million people in northern Gaza to leave in 24 hours

File Photo/AFP

Amid a tense and rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, the United Nations has said that Israel has ordered 1.1 million people in northern Gaza to leave.

The order, delivered to the U.N., comes as Israel presses an offensive against Hamas militants. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric called the order "impossible" without "devastating humanitarian consequences." This could signal an impending ground offensive, though the Israeli military has not yet confirmed such an appeal. On Thursday it said that while it was preparing, a decision has not yet been made.

Meanwhile, in Beirut, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived, delivering a foreboding message that the conflict could potentially spill over into "other fronts" if the relentless bombing of Gaza persisted.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarked on the second day of his regional mission, underscoring the urgency of international efforts to quell the escalating crisis.

On the ground, the Hamas leadership accused Israel of perpetrating what they termed a "genocide" in Gaza, adding to the already charged atmosphere of the conflict.

The devastating human toll was evident, with at least 1,537 Palestinians having lost their lives, including 500 children and 276 women, in the wake of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The number of casualties on the Israeli side has also risen to 1,300.

Also read: Operation Ajay: Flight carrying 212 Indians from Israel lands in Delhi

Meanwhile, the United States is moving quickly to boost Israel's military. Within hours of the attack by Hamas, the U.S. began moving warships and aircraft to the region to be ready to provide Israel with whatever it needed to respond.

A second U.S. carrier strike group departs from Norfolk, Virginia, on Friday. Scores of aircraft are heading to U.S. military bases around the Middle East. Special operations forces are now assisting Israel's military in planning and intelligence. The first shipment of additional munitions has already arrived.

More is expected, soon. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will arrive in Israel Friday to meet with Israeli leaders to discuss what else the U.S. can provide.

For now, the buildup reflects U.S. concern that the deadly fighting between Hamas and Israel could escalate into a more dangerous regional conflict. So the primary mission for those ships and warplanes is to establish a force presence that deters Hezbollah, Iran or others from taking advantage of the situation. But the forces the U.S. sends are capable of more than that. (With inputs from AP)