United Nations: 10,000 people fled from northern to southern Gaza yesterday, Saturday

Geneva

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that about ten thousand people fled from the northern Gaza Strip to the south yesterday, Saturday.

The office added on Sunday that this figure is based on estimates by United Nations observers on the ground, noting that among those fleeing are minors without their parents.

The citizens of Gaza were following the instructions of the Israeli Defense Forces, which more than once asked civilians to leave the northern part of the Strip.

Israel says Hamas maintains command centers and rocket launching bases in hospitals, schools and residential buildings in the north.

The United Nations office said that the refugees described having to pass through Israeli checkpoints equipped with facial recognition machines, noting that Israel fears the presence of known terrorists among the refugees.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that some people were detained at checkpoints.

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