As Israel prepares for a possible ground invasion of Gaza, it has ordered the evacuation of 1 million people, including those under treatment at the Al-Awda Hospital.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) took to X (formerly Twitter) and called for the evacuation of all civilians in Gaza City.

“The IDF calls for the evacuation of all civilians of Gaza City from their homes southwards for their own safety and protection and move to the area south of the Wadi Gaza,” the tweet said.

The United Nations and human rights groups have expressed concerns over this announcement, saying that it is not possible to move the entire civilian population within a 24-hour deadline.

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A U.N. spokesperson told media that the organization “considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences.”

However, Israel’s envoy to the U.N. Ambassador, Gilad Erdan, rejected the U.N.’s concern over “Israel’s early warning,” saying that it overlooks the brutality of the attack on Israel.

Fighting between both sides began after Hamas’ attack on Israel last week.

Over 2,800 people have since lost their lives. Hamas took 150 people as hostages into Gaza, and Israel has said it would block supplies into the territory until the hostages are released.

Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians in Gaza as human shields.

“Civilians of Gaza City, evacuate south for your own safety and the safety of your families and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields,” the IDF said in its X post.

President Joe Biden has reiterated the United States’ support for Israel on Friday, but added that the country “can’t lose sight” of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“We’re making sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself and respond to these attacks,” said Biden. “It’s also a priority for me to urgently address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” he said.

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