ACTIVISTS and aid agencies across the world slammed the “calamitous” order by Israel’s military today for more than one million Palestinians to evacuate northern Gaza and head to the southern part of the besieged territory.

The unprecedented order applying to almost half the population comes ahead of an expected ground invasion by Israeli forces of Gaza.

The evacuation order, which includes Gaza City, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, sparked widespread panic among civilians and aid workers already seeking what appears to be non-existent shelter from Israeli air strikes and contending with a total siege that has left them without food, water or fuel.