There have been fresh warnings over the deteriorating situation in Gaza, where Israel is attempting to capture Gaza City, the enclave’s largest.
Here are some of the key developments:
“Last opportunity”: Israel’s defense minister issued a “last opportunity” for Palestinians to move south. “Those who remain in Gaza will be (considered) terrorists and terror supporters,” Israel Katz wrote on X Wednesday.
Hamas said Katz’ comments represent a “glaring embodiment of arrogance.”
Key route closed: Also on Wednesday, the Israeli military announced that Al-Rashid Street, the main coastal highway in Gaza, will be closed to traffic from the south starting at noon, tightening the siege of Gaza City.
Israel’s assault on the city forced more Palestinians to flee packing their belongings in cars and donkey carts to head south, away from the worst of the Israeli offensive and towards what Israel said were humanitarian zones in central and southern Gaza.
Red Cross: The Red Cross has suspended operations in Gaza City, putting even more pressure on the few strained healthcare facilities that are still able to function in Gaza City.
The Red Cross said the suspension was temporary and that its teams had stayed as own as they could “to protect and support the most vulnerable people” and to help “the few remaining hospitals and health-care” centers amid a surge of weapon-wounded patients. Doctors Without Borders suspended their operations in Gaza City last week.