The order, delivered to the UN, comes as Israel presses an offensive against Hamas militants.
Palestinians look for survivors after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip
A UN official says that the United Nations are trying to get clarity from Israeli officials at the senior most political level. A ground offensive in Gaza, which is ruled by Hamas and where the population is densely packed into a sliver of land only 25 miles long, would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.
Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead in Gaza are Hamas members. Thousands have been wounded on both sides. Amid grief and demands for vengeance among the Israeli public, the government is under intense pressure to topple Hamas rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza.
Earlier, the Israeli military pulverized the Gaza Strip with airstrikes and said on Thursday its complete siege of the territory would remain in place until Hamas militants free some 150 hostages taken during a grisly weekend incursion.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Israel-Gaza latest: Israel 'strikes Syrian airports'; 447 children among dead in GazaAirports in Damascus and Aleppo are out of service after attacks by Israel, Syrian state media has said. It comes as the Israelis said Gaza will not be supplied with any electricity, water or fuel until hostages are freed.
Read more »
The latest airlines to cancel flights to Israel - including Easyjet and RyanairIt comes as Israel declared war on Hamas and launched airstrikes in Gaza at the weekend
Read more »
How Hamas militants prepared for brutal ground assault on Israel-Gaza borderThe tactics appear to have been used to devastating effect, enabling militants to flood into Israel and launch the surprise attack..
Read more »
Israel says senior Hamas operative killed as it conducts ‘large-scale strike’ on targets in GazaUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to arrive in Israel to show support for the country
Read more »
Justin Bieber slammed over Israel-Hamas Gaza photo social media postIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu forged an emergency government on Wednesday to direct war against Hamas. In a joint statement, Netanyahu and former defence chief and centrist opposition party leader Benny Gantz said they had agreed to form an emergency government comprising the two leaders and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
Read more »
Israel-Hamas conflict: Who controls the Gaza strip and how it affects EgyptGaza is under siege as Israel says supplies will not be allowed to cross the border until Israeli hostages are released
Read more »