Israel’s demand for all residents of north Gaza to evacuate within 24 hours is “impossible”, the United Nations has said. 

Some 300,000 IDF reservists have been called up and many are being sent to the border with Gaza, suggesting a land invasion of the territory could be imminent; however, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht denied any decision had been taken.

Gaza has a population of 2.3 million and the 1.1 million who live north of Wadi Gaza have been given a day to leave that area. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken:

"Just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed. And Hamas should be treated exactly the way ISIS was treated."https://t.co/eZbdaWqZP9 pic.twitter.com/Vbzp6nvOkQ

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 12, 2023

The IDF has told Gazans the evacuation is “for your own safety” but Hamas dismissed it as “fake propaganda” and urged Palestinians “not to fall for it”. 

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said it was "impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences".

'Collective punishment'

The conflict has claimed the lives of at least 1,500 Palestinians and the death toll is expected to increase further as Israel’s siege of Gaza means supplies of food, water and medicine are running out fast. 

The Israeli death toll stands at 1,300 and the country’s Energy Minister has ruled out an end to the siege unless Hamas frees the 150 people it holds as hostages. 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he supports Israel’s right to defend itself but warned the country’s siege risked breaking international law. 

"To me, it amounts to collective punishment,” he told RTÉ. 

“Cutting off power, cutting off fuel supplies and water supplies, that's not the way a respectable democratic state should conduct itself.” 

Main image: Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, 12th October 2023. Picture by: AP Photo/Hatem Moussa.