A million flee Gaza, Israel siege stops aid at border

Rafah (Gaza Strip): Palestinians in besieged Gaza crowded into hospitals and schools on Monday, seeking shelter and running low on food and water.

More than a million people have fled their homes ahead of an expected Israeli ground invasion aimed at destroying Hamas after its fighters rampaged through southern Israel.

As the enclave's food, water and medicine supplies dwindled, all eyes were on the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, where trucks carrying badly needed aid have been waiting for days as mediators press for a cease-fire that would allow them to enter Gaza and allow foreigners to leave.

Rafah, Gaza's only connection to Egypt, was shut down nearly a week ago because of Israeli airstrikes. Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Israel “has not taken a position to open the crossing from the Gaza side”.

The Israeli government did not respond to a request for comment. With a ground invasion of Gaza expected, Israel was preparing for the potential of a new front opening on its northern border with Lebanon, where it has exchanged fire repeatedly with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group.

The military ordered residents from 28 Israeli communities to evacuate. Speaking to the Israeli Knesset on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran and Hezbollah, "Don't test us in the north. Don't make the mistake of the past. Today, the price you will pay will be far heavier,” referring to Israel's 2006 war with Hezbollah.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sheltering in UN facilities are on less than 1 litre (1 quart) of water per day. Hospitals warn they are on the verge of collapse, with emergency generators that power machines like ventilators and incubators down to about one day of fuel and supplies of medicine almost exhausted.

The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,750 Palestinians have been killed and 9,700 wounded since the fighting erupted, more than in the 2014 Gaza war, which lasted over six weeks.

That makes this the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. Israel has ordered more than 1 million Palestinians — almost half the territory's population — to leave Gaza City for the enclave's south. The WHO said hospitals are “overflowing” as people seek safety.

"We are concerned about disease outbreaks due to mass displacement and poor water and sanitation,” it said. Four hospitals in northern Gaza are no longer functioning and 21 have received Israeli orders to evacuate. 

Gaza hospitals to run out of fuel in 24 hrs

Hospitals in Gaza are expected to run out of generator fuel in the next 24 hours, endangering the lives of thousands of patients, according to the UN.

Gaza's sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 40-km (25-mile) long territory.