Israel's Ground Invasion in Gaza Escalates as Residents Urged to Evacuate

Israel drops leaflets warning residents in the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate to the southern half, ahead of an expected ground invasion. The airstrikes have made roads impassable and Israel has imposed a complete blockade, leaving the territory starved of water, food, and fuel. The U.N. has warned that evacuating the densely populated area would have devastating humanitarian consequences. Hamas has kidnapped over 100 people, including some Americans, complicating the planning for the ground invasion. Hamas claims that 13 hostages were killed by Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours. Jerusalem remains relatively quiet during Friday midday prayers at the Al-Aqsa mosque, and there are reports of unrest along Jordan's border with the West Bank. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar criticizes Israel's bombardment of Gaza, calling it a form of "collective punishment." Hamas fires another barrage of rockets at southern Israel, and an Israeli embassy employee is attacked in China.