After the humanitarian pause took effect, Gazans went into the streets, many of them streaming toward northern Gaza, an area that Israel has described as a closed military zone, dangerous to civilians. the IDF warned in an Arabic language video announcements and mass-printed pamphlets against movements north, but this has not stemmed the worrying flow.

In additional clashes with soldiers, the IDF was compelled to open with live fire on the mobs, resulting in two deaths, according to Channel 12 correspondent Amir Ben-Shalom, citing military sources. Others were wounded. Commentators highlighted the strategic dilemma such a movement posed, threatening the fragile pause. Ben-Shalom advised that the army would need to use a firm hand in the early going to prevent the situation from filing out of control, also enlisting the support of international allies, especially the US, to alert them of the strategic threat posed by potential clashes between soldiers and masses of civilians.

While Israel remains focused on the return of 13 children and women in today’s group, the threat of confrontations between Gazans and the IDF has become an issue of great concern. A senior officer in the southern command was quoted as saying: “Anyone who presents a threat to our forces will be hit. The security of our forces is our utmost priority, thus we have acted and will continue to act.”