Israel seeks evacuation of civilians in Gaza strip

Israeli forces continued to attack the Gaza Strip, preparing for a possible ground invasion as the conflict with Hamas entered the sixth day. Hamas terrorists have taken 150 hostages, and Israel said it will not lift its siege until they are released. Israel's military on Friday ordered the evacuation of northern Gaza, a region that is home to 1.1 million people — about half of the territory's population — within 24 hours. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called the order "impossible" without "devastating humanitarian consequences."