Thousands flee north Gaza
GAZA CITY – Thousands of Palestinians fled yesterday to southern Gaza, seeking refuge after Israel warned them to evacuate before an expected ground offensive against Hamas in retaliation for the deadliest attack in Israel’s history.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that nearly a week of fierce bombardment was “just the beginning” as Israel seeks to retaliate against Hamas after their fighters killed more than 1,300 a week ago.
Israeli ground forces made “localized” raids into Gaza in the past 24 hours “to cleanse the area of terrorists and weaponry” and try to find “missing persons,” the army said.
Most of those killed when militant fighters burst through the heavily militarized border into Israel last Saturday were civilians, in an attack compared to 9/11 in the United States.
At least 1,900 Gazans – most of them civilians and including more than 600 children – have been killed in missile strikes on the densely populated enclave, the health ministry said.
“Where to go?” asked Umm Hossam, 29, who was among the thousands fleeing. “How long will the strikes and death last? We have no homes left, every area of Gaza is under threat,” said the 29-year-old, her face streaked with tears.
Hamas took about 150 Israeli, foreign and dual national hostages back to Gaza in the initial attack, Israel has said.
The militant group said on Friday that 13 of them had been killed in Israeli air strikes.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, in Israel on Friday, accused Hamas of using residents as a “shield” in Gaza, where Israel has cut off water, fuel and food supplies.
US President Joe Biden on Friday spoke with the families of 14 Americans who have been missing since the Hamas attack. “We’re going to do everything in our power to find them,” he told CBS’s “60 Minutes.”
He also stressed that addressing the swelling humanitarian crisis in Gaza was a priority. “The overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas and Hamas’ appalling attacks, and they’re suffering as a result as well,” Biden said in a speech.
Tensions have risen across the Middle East and beyond, with angry protests in support of the Palestinians, while Israel faces the threat of a
