#WHO stmt says the lives of those in intensive care or who rely on life support; newborns in incubators, and many others hang in the balance:

"Forcing more than 2,000 patients to relocate to southern #Gaza could be tantamount to a death sentence"

health workers have overwhelmingly chosen to stay behind, rather than risk moving their critically ill patients, a choice it calls "impossible".

It calls for #Israel "to reverse #evacuation orders to hospitals in northern Gaza"

"You will be able to return to Gaza City only when another announcement permitting it is made," Israeli officials said in the statement to Gaza residents.

The #evacuation order is part of #Israel 's "humanitarian measures" in the #Gaza Strip, says #IDF spox Jonathan Conricus:"Civilians are not our enemy."

He said the military wants to minimise civilian casualties as it strikes targets in the Gaza Strip, and that it remains fully committed to the laws of international armed conflict.

#Israel 's #UN ambo defended the #evacuation order saying it was giving an early warning to the residents of #Gaza to "minimise harm to those not involved" in its military operation against #Hamas "For many years, the UN has turned a blind eye to the arming of Hamas, its use of the civilian population and civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip as a hiding place for its weapons and murder," Gilad Erdan said "It is better for the UN to focus now on returning the #hostages , condemning Hamas"

The #UN "strongly appeals for any such ( #evacuation ) order to be rescinded avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation".

The order also includes all UN staff and those sheltered in UN facilities which includes schools, health centres, and clinics.

The UN Security Council #UNSC is due to hold an emergency meeting today in a closed consultation format.

Milo described how the #Gaza Border community's security teams "have fought bravely," noting especially the female fighters and commanders' role in stopping #Hamas militants. They have all "demonstrated extraordinary fighting skills - If anyone had any other thoughts, I think what happened leaves no doubt about the combat capabilities of the #IDF female fighters."

Milo stressed that his command's current main task is the #evacuation of residents who are still in the Gaza-Border communities