15,000 Gazans flee south in a single day as Israel cracks down on Hamas in Gaza city

15,000 Gazans flee south in a single day as Israel cracks down on Hamas in Gaza city

The United Nations estimates that some 15,000 people fled south from northern Gaza on Tuesday as Israel continued its campaign against Hamas terrorists in Gaza city.

Footage circulating on social media appeared to show a convoy of thousands of Gazans waving white flags as they moved south, flanked by Israeli armored vehicles. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the Gazans used Israel's 4-hour window set up for evacuation.

Israeli forces are locked in combat with Hamas terrorists embedded in hundreds of miles of tunnels beneath Gaza City. Israeli officials said earlier this week that they believe many of the hostages Hamas took on Oct. 7 are being held under the city as well.

Those fleeing included children, older people and people with disabilities, and most walked with minimal belongings, the U.N. agency said. Some say they had to cross Israeli checkpoints, where they saw people being arrested, while others held their hands in the air and raised white flags while passing Israeli tanks.