The United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) issued an urgent appeal Saturday to the Israeli authorities to protect all civilians taking shelter in the Gaza Strip.The UNRWA appeal came at a time when the deadline imposed by Israel for about 1.1 million civilians to leave the northern part of the Strip expired, before what is expected to be a “major” advance by Israeli ground forces into Gaza, according to UN News.”UNRWA shelters in Gaza and North Gaza are no longer safe, and this is unprecedented,” said UNRWA.UNRWA stated that according to the rules of war, civilians, hospitals, schools, clinics and United Nations buildings cannot be targeted.The agency stressed that “UNRWA spares no effort in advocating for the parties to the conflicting parties to fulfil their obligations under international law to protect civilians, including those seeking refuge in UNRWA shelters.”UNRWA explained that vulnerable groups, especially pregnant women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities, would
not be able to flee to the south of the Strip.

Source: Jordan News Agency