Israel's ground operation begins, Gazans are fleeing in droves
Israel has started a ground operation in Gaza after indiscriminate airstrikes. Israeli infantry and tanks entered the Gaza Strip on Friday, the country's military said.
According to the news agency Reuters, people are fleeing from Gaza with family members including women and children in fear of their lives. Many are walking for miles. They took with them domestic cows, camels, sheep and donkeys. As much as possible, they have started the journey of uncertainty.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the campaign of retaliation had only just begun.
Israel launched its first ground operation after a week of heavy bombardment in Gaza to eliminate Hamas, the armed group of the Palestinian Liberation Movement.
The Israeli army said it will launch a "significant" operation in Gaza City in the coming days. Civilians cannot return until further notice.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the Israeli army carried out operations with tanks to attack Palestinian rocket crews and to find information on the location of hostages held by Hamas.
On Friday morning, Israel called on all civilians to evacuate Gaza City to safe places in the south within 24 hours. Afterwards, numerous residents of northern Gaza were seen running on the streets. However, many have refused to leave their homes.
But Hamas has banned them from leaving their homes. Hamas said it will fight to the last drop of blood.
BBC reported that 23 lakh Palestinians live in the besieged Gaza Strip. 1900 people have been killed so far in an unprecedented week of Israeli airstrikes. The number of injured is 7 thousand 696 people. According to the Ministry of Health of Palestine, 60 percent of the dead and injured are women and children.
Standing in the street outside a building that was reduced to rubble by Israeli airstrikes near the center of Gaza, 20-year-old Mohammed said death was better than leaving Gaza.
The mosques in Gaza are miking, saying, stay in your homes. Hold your ground.
Hamas spokesman Yad al-Bozom told a news conference, "We are telling the people of northern Gaza and Gaza City, stay in your homes and in your places."
Gaza authorities said 70 people were killed and 200 wounded in the Israeli ground attack.
The United Nations said if so many people were forced to flee, a humanitarian disaster would ensue.
On Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the situation in Gaza had reached a dangerous level. We need to immediately open humanitarian corridors across Gaza, so we can get fuel, food and water to everyone in need.