First Thing: Hamas tells Gaza City residents to stay put after Israel orders evacuation

UN says order affecting 1.1 million people will spark devastating humanitarian consequences' amid likely Israeli ground assault. Plus, how criminalisation is being used to silence climate activists around the world

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Good morning.

Hamas has called on Palestinians to stay in their homes after Israel issued sweeping evacuation orders for almost half of Gaza's more than 2.3 million people ahead of an expected ground offensive.

What is the US doing to help Israel? The US pledged to send more arms to Israel yesterday ahead of the ground offensive. Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, pledged his country's support for Israel today, tomorrow, every day". He told the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on a visit to the region that Israel may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself but, as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to. We will always be there by your side."

What are the rules of war - and how do they apply to the Israel-Gaza conflict? After the horror of Hamas's attacks on Israel and the response by the Israeli military in Gaza, there have been calls for both sides to abide by international law amid accusations of breaches. Here's an explainer on the framework of international laws that is supposed to govern war or armed conflicts.