UN relocates its operations center to southern Gaza as Israeli attacks intensify

By Beraa Gokturk

ISTANBUL (AA) - The UN agency for Palestinian refugees announced on Friday that it has relocated its operations center and staff to the southern part of the Gaza Strip to continue its humanitarian operations across the region.

The decision by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) comes amid increased Israeli attacks on Gaza.

In a statement, UNRWA's communications director Juliette Touma said the decision to relocate its operations center was made to continue supporting Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip.

"UNRWA urges Israeli Authorities to protect all civilians in UNRWA shelters including schools," Touma said.

She also stressed that UN facilities "must be protected at all times and must never come under attack in accordance with international humanitarian law."

Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Friday that the number of Palestinians displaced in Gaza has risen to more than 423,000.

A significant development occurred during Israel's attacks on Gaza when Tel Aviv notified the UN that it was critical for residents of the northern part of the Gaza Strip to be evacuated within 24 hours.

The Israeli army informed the UN "that the entire population of Gaza north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza within the next 24 hours," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said late Thursday.

The ongoing conflict began when the Palestinian resistance group Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.

Hamas said it was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip in response.

The number of Palestinians killed from Israeli attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip has risen to 1,537, the Health Ministry in Gaza announced Thursday. Among the dead were 500 children and 276 women. More than 6,600 people were injured.

Meanwhile, according to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN), the Israeli death toll from the Hamas operation has risen to 1,300, with 3,300 injured.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara