Stephane Dujarric, the official spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, confirmed to Al-Quds.com’s correspondent in Washington that the Israeli Ministry of Defense informed the United Nations in the early hours of today, Thursday evening, of the necessity of evacuating its employees and notifying the Palestinians residing north of the Gaza Valley of the necessity of evacuating to the southern part. From the Gaza Strip within the next 24 hours, indicating that the Israeli army is preparing to storm the Strip.

Dujarric said in an interview with Al-Quds that he and his colleagues spent most of the night discussing the logistical issues of transporting the Palestinian citizens in the northern Gaza Strip to safer places, but he warned, “There are about 1.1 million people residing there, in addition to those who work in the United Nations and those who reside in United Nations facilities - including schools, health centers and clinics, such a large number that it is difficult to provide mechanisms to transport them safely and securely.”

Dujarric added, "The United Nations believes that it is impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences."

He stressed that the United Nations strongly calls for the necessity of canceling any such order, to avoid what could turn what is already a tragedy into a catastrophic situation.

Dujarric confirmed that there is active movement by a number of citizens currently under the auspices of the United Nations.

“This number is approximately 1.1 million people,” Dujarric told the site. “The same applies to all UN staff and those staying in UN facilities – including schools, health centers and clinics.”

Dujarric added, "The United Nations believes that it is impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences."

"The United Nations strongly calls for the cancellation of any such order, if confirmed, to avoid what could turn what is already a tragedy into a catastrophic situation."

The Israeli occupation authorities' request coincided with the arrival of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Israel, and the end of a support visit by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, as Washington affirmed its full support for Israel, whose Prime Minister vowed to "crush" Hamas after its unprecedented attack last week.

The Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas" was quick to reject this matter, and the Palestinian factions fired hundreds of rockets from Gaza at Israel on Friday, hours after the Israeli army asked residents to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip.

The number of displaced people reached approximately 500 thousand.