Palestinians, who fled their homes that are adjacent to the border with Israel, walk while others ride a horse cart as they make their way to stay at a United Nations-run school, in the northern Gaza StripReuters
Thousands of residents in the northern Gaza Strip are fleeing the region following a warning from Israeli forces even as Hamas exhorted the evacuees to return to their homes.
About 17,000 Palestinian residents and hundreds of foreign nationals have left Gaza through Israeli border crossings. According to the UN, nearly one-fourth of the 70,000 occupants in Beit Lahiya have sought refuge in shelters it has set up.
Israeli forces have dropped thousands of leaflets in northern Gaza and left scores of telephone messages warning of an imminent attack.
"We do not wish to harm civilians in Gaza, but these civilians must know that remaining in close proximity to Hamas terrorists and infrastructure is extremely unsafe," said the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Sunday (13 July).
However, Hamas, a dominant force in Gaza, is pushing the inhabitants to stay back at their homes, defying Israeli threats.
"To all of our people evacuating their homes - return immediately and do not leave your houses. Heeding Israel's warnings only aids [Israel] in achieving its agenda..." Hamas said in a statement.
In the early hours of Monday (14 July), the northern Gaza remained quiet except for minor incidents.
As the Israeli aerial bombardment enters the seventh day, at least 172 Palestinians have been killed, including 17 members from a single family. Palestinian officials say most of the victims are civilians, chiefly women and children.
The Israeli side has insisted they are targeting only militant targets including residences of senior Hamas figures, However, the UN has also said most of the casualties are civilians.
The IDF has said several rockets were launched from Lebanon and they responded with artillery fire.
in northern Gaza
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