Gaza: The Israeli army announced on Monday the evacuation of approximately 100,000 individuals from eastern Rafah in anticipation of an imminent ground assault in the southern city of Gaza.
A military spokesperson informed journalists that the estimated number of evacuees stood at around 100,000. Currently, about 1.2 million people are seeking shelter in Rafah, as reported by the World Health Organization. Most of them have sought refuge there from other parts of Gaza during the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas Palestinian militants.
The evacuation initiative is described as part of a strategy to dismantle Hamas, following a recent display of the group’s operational capabilities and presence in Rafah. The spokesperson stated, “This is an evacuation plan designed to remove people from harm’s way.”
On Sunday, the army reported the loss of three Israeli soldiers and injuries to a dozen others when a barrage of rockets targeted the Kerem Shalom border crossing between Israel and Gaza.
The rockets were launched from an area neighboring Rafah, striking soldiers who were guarding heavy machinery, tanks, and bulldozers in the vicinity.
Rain fell on Monday as the army distributed leaflets via airdrops advising about the evacuation.
Hamas’s military wing claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, prompting Israeli authorities to shut down the Kerem Shalom border crossing, a vital entry point for aid into Gaza.
On Monday, the Israeli army urged residents of eastern Rafah to relocate to an “expanded humanitarian area” within Palestinian territory in anticipation of an imminent military operation in the southern Gaza city.
The looming possibility of an invasion in Rafah has raised concerns among aid organizations and world leaders. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Friday that Israel had not presented a “credible plan to genuinely protect the civilians who are in harm’s way,” adding that without such a plan, Washington “can’t support a major military operation going into Rafah.”
Soon after the commencement of the conflict in Gaza on October 7, Israel instructed Palestinians residing in the northern part of Gaza to relocate to designated “safe zones” in the southern territory, including Rafah.
However, despite these directives, Rafah has been subjected to frequent aerial bombardments, leading Palestinians to assert that no area in Gaza is truly safe.
The Israeli Defense Forces announced the expansion of a humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, situated near Rafah, to accommodate the increased flow of aid into Gaza.
A military spokesperson stated during an online briefing that they had initiated a limited operation to temporarily evacuate residents from the eastern section of Rafah. This operation was described as being of limited scope.
The IDF’s statement indicated that messages urging temporary relocation to the humanitarian area would be disseminated through posters, SMS messages, phone calls, and media broadcasts in Arabic.
The military reiterated its commitment to pursuing Hamas militants throughout Gaza until all hostages held in captivity are safely returned.
