Leaders around the world have been raising their voices in concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a two-phase plan to continue the fight while fending off those criticisms.

Netanyahu said on Friday a "massive" operation is needed in the densely crowded city of Rafah, where more than a million people live or have taken refuge. He ordered his military to evacuate civilians before moving in ground forces. However, many residents have already evacuated multiple times from other areas.

Ahead of the ground offensive, Israeli forces began launching strikes from the air.

A girl who survived the attack said, "We were sleeping, and we suddenly woke up to the sound of bombing. Rocks were above our heads and a fire started. I was calling for my mother, father and my siblings and they didn't answer."

The fighting in Gaza over the last four months has killed 27,947 Palestinians. Even Israel's closest allies are voicing concern. On Thursday, US President Joe Biden criticized the military operations as being "over the top." He said civilian suffering has "got to stop."

The spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Stephane Dujarric, warned on Friday that civilians in Rafah need to be protected from any attacks -- but that they should not be displaced by force.