Smoke seen over Gaza Strip from Israeli town of Kfar Aza, Nov. 8, 2023. (Credit: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
On Wednesday, Hamas accused the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) of "colluding" with Israel in the "forced displacement" of Gaza residents. At the same press conference in Beirut, the group also called on US President Joe Biden to "stop making plans for the leadership of the Gaza Strip after the hostilities."
"UNRWA and its officials bear responsibility for this humanitarian catastrophe, in particular the residents of the Gaza [City] area and north of it," who are following instructions to flee, said Salama Marouf, head of the media bureau of Hamas.
The invading Israeli military told Palestinians in the north to move south as it battles Hamas militants in Gaza City.
An UNRWA spokeswoman did not immediately respond when contacted by AFP about the Hamas accusation.
The UN previously said 1.5 million of the 2.4 million people living in the densely populated coastal territory have been displaced by the war which started on Oct. 7.
Fighting began after Hamas militants spilled into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people.
The health ministry in Gaza said on Wednesday that the war has killed more than 10,500 people, mostly civilians.
...