United Nations: 360,000 people fled

These data were presented today by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the Palestinians in Gaza (UNRWA).

At the same time, the health ministry in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, stated that the health system is in danger of collapsing "within hours", after the fighting blocked fuel deliveries through key crossings, The Times of Israel reports.

"We are only a few hours away from the collapse of the health system in the Gaza Strip due to the lack of the necessary fuel to operate generators in hospitals, ambulances and to transport personnel," the ministry said in a statement.

The Israeli war cabinet on Thursday evening voted to approve a "limited expansion" of the military operation in Rafah.

The Israel Defense Forces began evacuating Palestinians from the eastern outskirts of Rafah last Monday, before Israeli forces entered the area.

The United Nations aid agency for Palestinians in Gaza said about 300,000 people were affected by the evacuation orders in Rafah and Jabalia, but that the numbers were likely to be higher because these are densely populated areas.

About one million Palestinians, who fled the conflict in other parts of the enclave, found refuge in Rafah.