Israel has warned all residents of Gaza City to leave immediately in anticipation of a huge ground offensive.
The military's Arabic spokesman told as many as one million Palestinians living in Gaza's biggest urban centre to evacuate southwards. Remaining in the area is extremely dangerous, he said.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said air strikes that had destroyed high-rise buildings in Gaza City in recent days were only the beginning of the main, intensive operation to capture what he has described as Hamas's last important stronghold.
Hamas said this amounted to a public demonstration of a fully-fledged crime of forced displacement.
Israel's plan to conquer Gaza City has also brought international criticism.
The UN has warned an intensification of the offensive on an area where a famine has already been declared will push civilians into an even deeper catastrophe.
The IDF's message was clear: evacuate immediately for your safety. The potential consequences of the ground assault have raised alarms across the international community, urging restraint and humanitarian considerations.
UN agencies stated that the announcement of intensified Israeli military operations has horrific humanitarian consequences for displaced persons, with families struggling to find safe exit routes amidst ongoing violence.
Photographs captured a slow but steady stream of evacuating civilians, as many expressed uncertainty about where to seek refuge. Eyewitness accounts reveal a mix of desperation and despair as thousands navigate the perilous journey southward in search of safety.
This crisis underscores the dire need for humanitarian aid and international intervention to address the escalating catastrophe facing the civilians in Gaza.
