Israel has deliberately displaced Palestinian civilians in Gaza and is responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch said in a report.

Residents said Israeli forces besieged shelters housing displaced families and the remaining population, which some estimated at a few thousand, ordering them to head south through a checkpoint separating two towns and a refugee camp in the north from Gaza City.

United Nations officials described the situation in northern Gaza as “ apocalyptic ,” and warned the entire population there is at risk of death. The strikes come as a US’ deadline set last month for Israel to “surge” food and emergency aid into Gaza is set to expire.