This is not the first Israeli incursion into Gaza since Hamas took control of the territory, in 2007. What human-rights norms has Israel observed and not observed in prior incursions? In prior incursions, the Israeli military engaged in disproportionate and in some cases indiscriminate attacks on civilians. The laws of war require armies to avoid deliberately targeting civilians, and also to avoid attacks that by their nature cannot distinguish between civilians and combatants.
What else is Israel saying about where they can go? Those who have fled have fled to the south. The Israeli government drew a line at the northern end of Gaza and said, Everything above this line, including Gaza City, including refugee camps that are densely populated, including the main hospital, everything above this line, you have to leave. Many people are terrified, and they’ve fled to relatives, and to homes in the southern part of Gaza. Many people cannot flee.