Gazans accelerate their flight to the south of the Strip as the Israeli ultimatum comes to an end

Hundreds of Palestinians wait at the Rafah crossing for the opening of the only way to escape the enclave

Thousands of Gazans continue their flight to the south of the Palestinian enclave while Israel's ultimatum to the communities in the north of the Strip - more than a million people - has reached its end without there being any evidence of the launch of a new Israeli operation and among multiple international initiatives to buy time in the face of a new humanitarian catastrophe.

The spokesman for the Israeli Army, Richard Hetch, has acknowledged that these movements "will take time" while Hamas has asked the population to stay in their homes in the face of what he has described as Israeli "propaganda", according to the DPA agency, if Many residents of the Strip assure the media that the situation right now is one of "growing panic."

Later, the Israeli Army also denounced that "Hamas makes it difficult for the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip to move along the central roads and prevents vehicles from passing through them." As proof, it has published aerial images and videos of traffic congestion on roads near the coast.

The events of the last few hours include new alarms in the Israeli towns of Zikim, Ashkelon and Sderot, open clashes between Israel and Hezbollah on the Lebanese border and intense negotiations for the opening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, while in the nearby Egyptian town A WHO plane with humanitarian aid awaits from El Arish.

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has reported a huge crisis due to lack of water throughout the enclave and that many Gazans have spent the night on the streets due to the lack of shelter. The main hospitals in the enclave, including Al Quds, in Gaza City, have been declared unable to transport hundreds of patients and refugees.

In its latest assessment of displacement, UNRWA states that 500,000 civilians are in its shelters "across the north and south of the Strip", of which 375,000 are in UNRWA buildings in the south after having fled from the north, where thousands of people (pregnant women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities) have not been able to flee.

"United Nations facilities cannot be a target," the agency has warned. "We are doing everything possible to ensure that the parties to the conflict fulfill their obligations under international law to protect civilians."

The president of the United States, Joe Biden, assured this Saturday that his country is working with the governments of Israel, Egypt and Jordan, as well as with the United Nations, to try to alleviate the effects of the evacuation ordered by Israel of the population in the north. of the Gaza Strip in the face of the prospects of a ground invasion of the enclave.

On his Twitter account, Biden has explained that this round of talks, in line with the emergency regional tour led by his Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is intended to "gather support to alleviate the humanitarian consequences" of last Saturday's attack. of Hamas against Israel that triggered the current conflict.

To this we must add that "the children and families of Gaza have been left practically without food, electricity, medicine and safe access to hospitals, after several days of hostilities and cuts to all supply routes," the fund denounces. of the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF.

For its director general, Catherine Russell, "the situation is catastrophic, with incessant bombing and a massive increase in the displacement of children and families. Russell advocates for "an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access are the main priorities to allow children and Gaza families receive the help they so desperately need.

However, many families have decided to remain in their homes despite the Israeli warning. "We have roots in our land. We prefer to die with dignity and face our destiny," explained a Gaza resident, Rami Swailem, in statements to Al Jazeera television. At least five families who live in their building have decided to stay.

Some 35,000 displaced civilians have gathered in the most important hospital in Gaza City in the hope that the place will not be bombed. "People believe it is the only safe place after their homes were destroyed and they were forced to flee. Gaza City is a terrifying scene of devastation," explained a spokesperson for the Gaza Ministry of Health, Medha Abbas.