IDF press attache Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told reporters that the Israeli army estimates that about half a million people have fled the northern Gaza Strip.
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Earlier, Israel, preparing to bring the army into the Gaza Strip, demanded that the civilian population of its northern part, including Gaza City itself, urgently evacuate to the south.
The IDF press attache accused Hamas of preventing civilians from evacuating to the south of the sector. According to Lieutenant Colonel Conricus, the military operation in Gaza is approaching an “intensified” phase, and it will be dangerous to remain in its zone.
Asked about the airstrike along the evacuation corridor, which Palestinians say killed 70 people on Friday, Lt. Col. Conricus said only that the IDF does not deliberately target civilians.
At the same time, during the briefing he admitted that the nature of the current operation is such that it is not always possible to avoid civilian casualties.
We’re hitting Hamas, we’re hitting their infrastructure, and we’re actively hunting down their commanders. When you’re hunting a live target that can move, it’s not always possible, probably for obvious reasons, to use the same tactics with notice in advance, which minimizes collateral damage because that person will know that he’s being hunted, the press officer said Israeli army.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden said that the occupation of the Gaza Strip was a big mistake.
Asked by CBS whether he would support Israel’s occupation of Gaza at this point, Biden said:
Hamas […] does not represent the entire Palestinian people. And I think it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza again. But it is necessary to go in and get the extremists.
Biden also said he was confident Israel would abide by the rules of war.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan, commenting on US President Joe Biden’s remarks, said that Israel is not interested in occupying Gaza.
We have no interest in occupying Gaza or staying in Gaza, but since we are fighting for our survival, and as President Biden himself has noted, the only way is to destroy Hamas, we will have to do whatever is necessary to destroy their forces and assets. – the Israeli ambassador said on CNN.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.