Israel’s military has informed the United Nations that the entire population of northern Gaza should relocate to the southern half of the territory within 24 hours, the U.N. spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, said late on Thursday night, adding that such a movement — involving over one million people — would lead to “devastating humanitarian consequences.”

“The same order applied to all U.N. staff and those sheltered in U.N. facilities — including schools, health centers and clinics,” Mr. Dujarric said.

The U.N. was told that the marker dividing the north from south was Wadi Gaza, the statement said.

The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Friday afternoon in a closed consultation format

    • steventhedev@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The advanced munitions are almost certainly not white phosphorus. Israel already has M258A1 munitions and has had them for a very long time.

      Far more likely they are bunker busters intended to destroy underground facilities constructed from reinforced concrete.

        • steventhedev@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          IDF rules of engagement prohibit the use of WP for non smoke purposes. They have court martialed soldiers in the past for intentionally using WP in that manner.

          So yes, this is a crime. It also means that it’s unlikely to happen at a large scale. I would be surprised if it doesn’t happen somewhat and there will for sure be accusations.

    • Spzi@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      That’s targeting the people inside the tunnel, not the tunnel itself. Since people are probably supposed to return to these areas eventually, I guess Israel would not consider it sufficient to clear the tunnels temporarily. They probably want to destroy them permanently.

      • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        With the city above the tunnels being collateral damage…

        When the surviving civilian citizens return, they won’t have anything to return to.