Palestinians flee Gaza as UN appeals for humanitarian ceasefire

By Nathan Morley

The Israeli military now says it will allow civilians living in northern Gaza another few hours to head south by designated routes without coming to harm.

More than a million Palestinians were told on Friday to relocate ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive.

UN Secretary-General's appeal

Over in New York, the United Nations Security Council has been discussing calls for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza in a meeting behind closed doors. The Secretary General, António Guterres, has warned that moving more than a million people in a war zone would be extremely hazardous.

Amid all this, the United Nations' World Health Organization (WHO) says an aircraft with medical supplies to support urgent health needs has landed in the Egyptian city of Arish, about 28 miles from Gaza. Supplies are ready to be deployed to Gaza as soon as humanitarian access through a crossing is established.

Figures show that nearly 2,000 people have been killed in Israel's bombing campaign of the Gaza Strip.

More than 1,300 people were killed in Israel last weekend when Hamas fighters crossed the border to attack civilians and soldiers.