Rosalia Bollen, a communication specialist from Unicef, says the Israeli displacement orders are compounding the “very deep suffering” of families in Gaza.

“Before the two ground invasions that started today — a ground invasion in Tal as-Sultan in Rafah, and a ground invasion in Beit Hanoon in northern Gaza — there were estimates of already 125,000 people on the move, forced to flee again, because of the violence and the displacement orders of the previous days,” she told Al Jazeera from al-Mawasi.

Bollen said fleeing Palestinians are only able to carry a few belongings with them and are in “urgent need” of food and water.

“Today’s ground invasions are making this situation even worse,” she added. “Despite the evacuation orders indicating safe passage, there are reports of people being killed, people being injured, people being trapped – there are reports of ambulances being trapped with medics killed and injured.

“So this is all deeply worrying, and the situation is really deteriorating by the day,” Bollen added, noting that “what makes it worse is the absolute devastation of infrastructure in Gaza.”