UN: Israeli army warns over a million people in Gaza to evacuate to the south of the enclave

(Patria) - The United Nations said early this morning that the Israeli army told them that about 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza should move to the south of the enclave within the next 24 hours.

"The United Nations considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric in a statement.

"We appeal for such an order to be rescinded."

"The United Nations strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded, avoiding turning what is already a tragedy into a catastrophic situation," he said.

Dujarric added that the Israeli army's order also applies to all UN personnel and those housed in UN facilities, including schools, health centers and clinics, Reuters reports.

Israel has vowed to destroy the Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip, in retaliation for the deadliest attack on civilians in Israeli history, when hundreds of armed militants crossed the border and rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday.

Israeli officials say the death toll inside Israel has risen to more than 1,300. Most were civilians killed in their homes, on the streets or at a dance party. Authorities in Gaza said more than 1,500 Palestinians have been killed and over 6,000 wounded in retaliatory Israeli airstrikes, and a ground assault is also planned.

Israel issued a response to the UN, defending its evacuation order and saying the international body's statement was "shameful." Gilad Erdan, the country's ambassador to the UN, said Israel is giving early warning to Gaza residents and trying to "minimize harm to those not involved" in its military operation against Hamas.

“The UN has for years turned a blind eye to Hamas's arming and its use of the civilian population and civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip as hideouts for its weapons and killings,” he said.

"Now, instead of standing by Israel, whose citizens were killed by Hamas terrorists... it preaches to Israel," Erdan said.

"It is better that the UN now focuses on returning the hostages, condemning Hamas and supporting Israel's right to defend itself," he added.