\n<\/p>\n
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, called that message a threat to collectively punish Palestinian civilians who were unwilling or unable to move south. She said it could possibly amount to ethnic cleansing.<\/p>\n
In response to questions from The New York Times, the Israeli military said in a statement that it \u201ctreats civilians as such, and does not target them.\u201d A spokesman for Israel\u2019s Foreign Ministry said there was no basis for the suggestion that its evacuation warnings could amount to ethnic cleansing.<\/p>\n
Despite Israel\u2019s warnings to leave, many civilians in northern Gaza said that doing so was impossible because of the cost, and that moving south was no guarantee of safety.<\/p>\n
Amani Abu Odeh, who lives in the town of Jabalia in Gaza\u2019s north, said that the risk of Israeli airstrikes on the road meant that drivers were now charging $200 to $300 to take a family south. Before the war, the same trip cost about $3 a person, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t even afford to eat,\u201d Ms. Abu Odeh said. \u201cWe don\u2019t have the money to leave.\u201d Instead, she and other members of her extended family have hunkered down together in one home.<\/p>\n
Yasser Shaban, 57, a civil servant in Gaza City, said he was not moving south \u201cmainly because I know no one there; where am I to go?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will end up in the streets,\u201d Mr. Shaban said.<\/p>\n
He said his cousin had moved south with members of his family after airstrikes on Gaza City. But a week ago, he said, an Israeli airstrike hit the building where they were sheltering in the southern city of Khan Younis, killing the cousin\u2019s wife and two daughters.<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard of the new leaflets saying they will consider us members of Hamas if we don\u2019t evacuate,\u201d Mr. Shaban said. \u201cBut I simply can\u2019t go south.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n