Israel to close last remaining route from southern Gaza to the north as it continues offensive on Gaza City – Middle East crisis live
Israel to close last remaining route from southern Gaza to the north as it continues offensive on Gaza City – Middle East crisis live
Middle East crisis: Israeli minister says ‘last opportunity’ for Gaza City residents to flee – as it happened
The Israeli military said it will close on Wednesday the last remaining route for residents of southern Gaza to access the north, as it presses its offensive on Gaza City.
The military’s Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on X:
"Al-Rashid Street will be closed to traffic from the southern sector area at 12:00 (0900 GMT). Movement southward will be allowed for those who were unable to evacuate Gaza City. At this stage, the [Israeli military] permits free movement southward without inspection."
In figures reported less than two weeks ago, the UN said that more than a quarter of a million people had been displaced from Gaza City in the previous month. Tens of thousands more have been forced to flee makeshift homes and shelters daily in the face of a new Israeli offensive, it added.