Israel issues ‘terrorist accomplice’ warning to Gaza residents as it urges them south

The Israeli military has issued a stern warning to the residents of Gaza. They have been cautioned that if they do not relocate to the south, they may be classified as accomplices to a 'terrorist organisation'. This has instilled a sense of fear among the Palestinians living there. A significant number of people have already migrated southwards in search of safety. However, the southern areas are not entirely safe either, as they are also being targeted by air and artillery strikes. The first batch of aid arrived on Saturday, after a two-week-long complete blockade by Israel. Despite this, relief agencies continue to express concerns about a potential humanitarian disaster, as hospitals are running critically low on fuel to operate essential equipment. Prior to the war, hundreds of trucks used to enter Gaza daily. However, on Saturday, only 20 trucks were permitted entry. The warning to the Gaza residents was disseminated on Saturday via leaflets dropped from the air, bearing the Israeli military logo, and through automated phone messages. The leaflets stated that anyone who chooses not to vacate the northern part of Gaza could be identified as an accomplice in a terrorist organisation. The Israeli forces, preparing for a ground assault, have been bombarding the 45km enclave since Hamas militants launched an attack on Israeli towns on October 7. The attack resulted in the death of more than 1,400 people and the capture of over 200 hostages. According to the health authorities in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, the bombardment has claimed the lives of 4,650 Palestinians. The intensity of the strikes seems to be escalating, with 266 casualties reported over a 24-hour period, including 117 children. Meanwhile, the aid that arrived on Saturday began to be distributed on Sunday. A second, smaller convoy of aid trucks entered Egypt's Rafah border crossing on Sunday, some of which were reportedly carrying much-needed fuel. The United Nations has warned that its fuel supplies in Gaza will only last for another three days. Israel has expressed concerns that Hamas could utilise the fuel brought into Gaza to manufacture weapons and explosives. 'We don't want food or money. We want this war to end. We want death to stop and we want this blind bombing of civilians to stop,' stated Mohammad Maher, 40, who has relocated to the south from Gaza City in the north. He described the amount of food aid that had arrived as 'pathetic' and accused Israel and the United States of attempting to starve the Palestinians. 'Shame on the world,' he declared. In the Jabalia refugee camp, located in the northern part of the enclave, Israeli air strikes have destroyed two mosques, among 30 that local authorities claim have been demolished in two weeks. 'They have destroyed it and they destroyed the district around it,' a man standing by the rubble commented. However, the southern areas of Gaza, to which people have fled, are also fraught with risks. In Khan Younis, in the south, a funeral was held for seven members of a single family who were killed in overnight strikes. Women clung to each other, weeping, as the bodies were transported by cart to a gravesite and interred, wrapped in white shrouds. Ashraf al-Qidra, a spokesperson for the Gaza health ministry, revealed that there were 130 newborn babies in electrically powered incubators. At al-Shifa Hospital, one of the largest in Gaza, the fuel tanks were nearly depleted, he said. 'We have switched the fuel to the most essential life-saving services, including the incubators, but we don't know how long it can last,' he added. The United Nations agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, stated, 'without fuel there will be no water, no functioning hospitals and bakeries'. At a bakery in Khan Younis, long queues had formed from dawn due to the scarcity of bread. 'If this continues, the entire population will be without food and drink. We won't find bread or flour or anything at all,' lamented Shady al-Aqqad, one of the hundreds of people waiting in line.