Photos: Thousands of Palestinians flee north Gaza after Israel evacuation warning

Israel-Gaza conflict has entered the 7th day with Israeli army ordering the evacuation of 1.1 million people in northern Gaza on Friday. Israel's army called for all Gaza City residents to evacuate their homes and head south of the territory "for their safety".

"The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) calls for the evacuation of all civilians of Gaza City from their homes southwards for their own safety and protection and move to the area south of the Wadi Gaza as shown on the map," the army said in a statement. The call to get out came six days after Hamas militants burst through the heavily militarised border around the Gaza Strip and killed more than 1,300 civilians.

Palestinians with their belongings crowd a street in Gaza City as they flee from their homes following the Israeli army's warning on October 13, 2023.

As Israel pounds Gaza, Hamas fighters have fired thousands of rockets into Israel since their weekend assault. Militants in the territory are also holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel.

Already, Palestinians fleeing airstrikes could be seen running through the streets, carrying their belongings and looking for a safe place.

A boy carries a mattres as Palestinians with their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes.

Tens of thousands have crowded into UN-run schools while others are staying with relatives or even strangers who let them in.

On Wednesday, Gaza’s only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators.

A senior official with the the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that lack of electricity could cripple hospitals.

After Hamas militants stormed through a border fence on Saturday and massacred hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “crush and destroy” the group, which has governed Gaza since 2007.