HAMILTON, Canada
The UN on Tuesday warned that there are "no guarantees" for the safety and well-being of civilians ordered to evacuate areas in the northern and southern Gaza Strip by the Israeli military.
Citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN spokesperson Farhan Haq reported at a news conference that the Israeli army "has ordered people to evacuate areas in Beit Hanoon and Khan Younis."
"This marks the first evacuation order issued in more than two months since the 15th of January," he said.
Saying that "many people have already been displaced, seeking safety elsewhere," Haq reported that the area covered by the new order spans over 6% of Gaza and includes more than a dozen shelters for displaced individuals, as well as three clinics and one field hospital.
Haq cited the OCHA, and said that "no guarantees have been provided for the safety protection and well-being of those ordered to leave, let alone for those staying behind."
When asked by Anadolu whether UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is considering calling on member states for an arms embargo on Israel following the overnight deadly airstrikes, Haq said those measures are within the jurisdiction of the Security Council.
Saying that it is not in Guterres' hands to call for an embargo, Haq said the UN chief has "made it clear that he wants this fighting to stop. He's made it clear what his expectations are from Israel."
Pressed further on whether Guterres has the ability to make the call, given the severity of the situation, Haq said, "I think what he's focusing on is making sure that all the countries that have pressure on the various parties -- will use it to make sure that the ceasefire can be restored."
The Israeli army said earlier Tuesday that it carried out airstrikes in Gaza, marking the largest assault since a ceasefire deal was reached between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, in late January.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that 404 bodies have been transferred to hospitals, along with 562 injured, following the attacks. It added that “a number of victims are still under the rubble.”
Israel’s war on Gaza, which began in October 2023, has killed more than 48,500 Palestinians.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.