The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) called for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in Gaza City to evacuate their homes and move toward the south.
"The IDF calls for the evacuation of all civilians of Gaza City from their homes southwards for their own safety and protection and to move to the area south of the Wadi Gaza," the army said in a statement.
Additionally, the United Nations said it was informed late Thursday of an Israeli directive to those living in Gaza's north to relocate to the southern part of the enclave.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said UN staff in Gaza "were informed by their liaison officers in the Israeli military that the entire population of Gaza north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza within the next 24 hours."
"This amounts to approximately 1.1 million people," Dujarric added, or nearly half of Gaza's 2.3 million population.
"The United Nations considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences," Dujarric said.
The UN has appealed to Israel to retract the order to avoid worsening the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
What Israel told Gaza residents about the evacuation
Gaza City residents were sent a message telling them to leave "from their homes southwards for their own safety and protection," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said.
The call for the evacuation comes as observers believe that a ground offensive by Israel may be imminent in the Gaza Strip.
"The Hamas terrorist organization waged a war against the state of Israel, and Gaza City is an area where military operations are taking place," Conricus said reading the message to residents in a daily briefing broadcast on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday morning.
"This evacuation is for your own safety. You will be able to return to Gaza City only when another announcement permitting it is made," he added.
Conricus said residents were warned not to approach the security fence with Israel but rather just evacuate south within the Gaza Strip.
He called the message a "humanitarian step that the IDF is taking in order to minimize civilian casualties as this war unfolds."
More than 423,000 displaced in Gaza: UN
More than 423,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Gaza due to the conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas, the United Nations said on Friday.
Israel has been striking the Gaza Strip in response to a terrorist attack carried out in Israel by Hamas, which is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the EU, the US, Germany and many other countries.
Israel's army to use 'significant force' in Gaza
Israel's military says it will operate with "significant force" in Gaza in the coming days after calling on civilians to move to the south of the sealed-off territory.
The military "will make extensive efforts to avoid harming civilians," said Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesperson.
"Out of an understanding that there are civilians here who are not our enemy and we do not want to target them, we are asking them to evacuate," he said.
Hamas calls Israeli evacuation warning 'propaganda,' tells people to remain in Gaza
The Palestinian terror group Hamas denounced the Israeli military's call for the evacuation of the northern Gaza Strip as "propaganda."
Civilians should not fall for the "propaganda messages," said Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip.
Hamas told Palestinians to stay in their homes.
Witnesses told the German dpa news agency that several residents had already been stopped by Hamas and ordered to return to the north.
The witnesses added that there was mounting panic in the area and clear instructions were lacking.
Israel, Germany, the European Union, the United States and several other countries have designated Hamas a terrorist organization.
UN agency relocates Gaza HQ after Israeli evacuation call
The UN's relief agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said it has moved its headquarters to the south of the Gaza Strip following Israel's call for evacuation.
"UNRWA relocated its central operations center + international staff to the south to continue its humanitarian operations and support to its staff and Palestine Refugees in #Gaza," the UN agency said in a social media post.
"We urge the Israeli Authorities to protect all civilians in @UNRWA shelters including schools."
The UN estimates that more than a million people will need to evacuate, adding that it is an impossible task within 24 hours.
Death toll from Israel-Hamas conflict nears 3,000
At least 1,300 civilians and soldiers have died in Israel due to the large-scale terror attacks by Islamist Hamas militants.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Jonathan Conricus gave the latest death toll, adding that more than 3,000 people were injured.
"As we match and identify more and more of the Israeli bodies that are uncovered in the communities, we will have more information about missing persons," Conricus said.
Meanwhile, more than 1,530 Palestinians have been killed and more than 6,600 wounded in Israeli retaliatory attacks over the past week, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
It remains unclear how many people could still be unaccounted for both in Israel and the Gaza Strip.
Brazil urges Israel to create humanitarian corridor for Gaza residents
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, urged Israel to establish a humanitarian corridor for residents of Gaza to evacuate and move into Egypt.
"I recently spoke on the phone with the President of Israel Isaac Herzog," Lula said Thursday on X, formerly Twitter. "I conveyed my call for a humanitarian corridor so that people who want to leave the Gaza Strip through Egypt can be safe."
Besides Lula, many European leaders and the World Health Organization have called for creating a route people can use to flee the Palestinian enclave and to let humanitarian aid flow in.
Brazil has also called a meeting of the Security Council on Friday to discuss the ongoing conflict.
Pro-Palestinian protests held in Iraqi, Iranian capitals
A protest erupted Friday in Iraq's capital of Baghdad in support of Palestinians and in protest of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
The rally, which thousands of people attended, was called by influential Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr.
"No to the occupation! No to America!" chanted the demonstrators, who had gathered in Tahrir Square.
A similar protest in Iran's capital, Tehran, drew thousands of people, many waving Iranian, Palestinian and Hezbollah flags.
They held banners that read "Down with America" and "Down with Israel" as they marched in the capital, eyewitnesses said.
Similar rallies were held in other cities across the Islamic Republic where US and Israeli flags were burnt.
Further protests are expected around the world following afternoon prayers on Friday.
Germany's Baerbock: Hamas has committed terrible atrocities
Ahead of her visit to Israel on Friday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Israel was "experiencing barbaric terror," accusing Hamas of committing "terrible atrocities" in recent days.
"Entire families — men, women, small children — were murdered in the most horrific ways by Hamas terrorists," a statement from her office said.
She called the attacks "a brutal turning point," and said, "a new era has begun for the people of Israel."
Baerbock added that Hamas' terror "carries the risk of destabilizing an entire region," and that the militant Islamist group brings "nothing but suffering and death to the people — in Israel and in Gaza."
"Where there have recently been cautious steps towards rapprochement, Hamas wants to start a conflagration. It is now important to prevent other actors in the region from adding fuel to the fire," she continued.
"The script of terror must not be allowed to take hold. Civilians need safe spaces where they can find protection and be provided with the essentials," Baerbock said.
During her visit, the minister is expected to discuss how Germany can support Israel, as well as the fate of hostages taken by Hamas the previous weekend — several German or German-Israeli dual nationals are thought to be among the hostages.
Hamas says 13 hostages killed in Israeli strikes
Militant Islamist group Hamas said on Friday that 13 hostages "including foreigners" were killed during Israeli strikes on Gaza.
The group, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, said in a statement that the 13 had been killed in various locations over a 24-hour period without giving further details on the nationalities of the deceased.
DW cannot independently verify the claims made in the statement.
Hamas — deemed a terror group by Israel, the US, the EU and others — is believed to have taken between 100 and 150 hostages following its terror attacks against Israel on Saturday.
Israel launched strikes on Hamas targets in the Palestinian territory in response to the deadly attacks that Israel said killed at least 1,300 civilians and soldiers.
Meanwhile, Gaza officials say more than 1,530 Palestinians have been killed and more than 6,600 wounded in Israeli retaliatory attacks this week.
Media: Iran FM meets Hezbollah head in Lebanon
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian met the head of the powerful Tehran-backed armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon on Friday, local Lebanese media outlets reported.
Amirabdollahian met Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to discuss the aftermath of a deadly operation by Hamas militants against Israeli towns last weekend, Al-Mayadeen television reported.
Concerns are growing that the conflict that broke out last weekend between Israel and Hamas could escalate, with other regional foes of Israel getting involved.
In recent days, tensions have been rising on Israel's border with Lebanon, where both Israel and Hezbollah forces have traded fire.
Hezbollah is an Iran-backed Shiite political party and militant group in Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the US, Germany and several Sunni Arab countries, while the EU lists its armed wing as a terrorist group.
US defense minister Austin lands in Israel
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived Friday in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv to meet with senior government officials.
Austin is expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and the Israeli War Cabinet.
During the trip, he will also see firsthand some of the US-made weapons and security assistance Washington rapidly delivered to Israel.
US defense officials traveling with Austin said he wants to underscore America's unwavering support for the people of Israel and that the US is committed to ensuring the country has what it needs to defend itself.
Austin's visit comes a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the region, continuing the frantic Mideast diplomacy, seeking to avert an expanded regional conflict. Blinken is scheduled to meet with Jordanian and Qatari officials on Friday.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are also due in Israel on Friday.
UN to Israel: Call off Gaza evacuation
The United Nations has urged Israel to rescind its call for 1.1 million residents of northern Gaza to relocate to the south of the territory within 24 hours.
"The United Nations considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences," Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said.
He told the AFP news agency that the UN "strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation."
Dujarric said the army's evacuation order applies to all UN staff and those sheltering in UN facilities —- including schools, health centers and clinics.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is sheltering more than 60% of the 423,000 people displaced in recent days in the Gaza Strip.
UN appeals for $294 million to help Palestinians
The United Nations has issued an emergency appeal for $294 million (€279 million) to address "the most urgent needs" of people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank as fighting between Israel and militant group Hamas continues.
The funds would be used to help more than 1.2 million people, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.
According to the OCHA, "most residents in the Gaza Strip no longer have access to drinking water from service providers or domestic water through pipelines."
"UNICEF reports some have already begun drinking seawater," it added.
OCHA said medical facilities are also overwhelmed and pointed to some 50,000 pregnant women who now face difficulties accessing essential health services.