Warnings from Israel's military that more than 1.1 million civilians in northern Gaza should evacuate "southwards" in the next 24 hours are a "tall order," National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby said, while avoiding criticism of the Israeli Defense Forces.
“We understand what they're trying to do: They're trying to move civilians out of harm's way and giving them fair warning. Now it's a tall order. It's a million people and very urban, dense environment. It's already a combat zone. So I don't think anybody's underestimating the challenge here of effecting that evacuation,” Kirby told CNN Friday.
The UN said the order for the mass evacuation was "impossible" without major humanitarian consequences.
The US does not want to see “any civilians hurt,” Kirby added. “Obviously, the more time that people have the better, but I'd let the IDF speak to their to the orders they're giving into the operations that they're conducting and planning.”
The US continues to advocate for safe passage out of Gaza, and continues “actively talking” to Israeli and Egyptian officials, he said, but it remains closed at this time.
