The Israeli army appears ready to launch its long-threatened attack on Rafah by ordering Palestinians to leave parts of the city in southern Gaza.
Israeli forces on Monday called on residents of Rafah, where large numbers of displaced Palestinians had previously been pushed back, to evacuate to “an expanded humanitarian zone.” This decision comes as Israel and Hamas blame each other for the failure of truce negotiations.
The Israeli military said in social media posts that it is “encouraging” residents of eastern Rafah to settle in an area of the al-Mawasi refugee camp on the Mediterranean. west of Khan Younis.
The military said calls for “temporary” relocation would be “conveyed through leaflets, SMS messages, phone calls and broadcasts in Arabic-language media.”
“(Israeli forces) will continue to pursue Hamas throughout Gaza until all the hostages they are holding captive have returned home,” he said.
In a message on al-Jnaina, Tabet Ziraa and al-Bayyouk.
An Israeli army spokesperson told reporters that around 100,000 people were being evacuated.
Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that Israel’s evacuation order and expected offensive constitute a “dangerous escalation that will have consequences.”
No shelter
Despite urgent warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe from his country’s allies, including the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has for weeks insisted on the need for an assault on Rafah.
Israel says the city is a refuge for Hamas command and fighters who must be exterminated as part of Netanyahu’s pledge to achieve “total victory” over the Palestinian group.
However, NGOs on the ground warn that there is no shelter for the large number of people in Rafah. Displaced people had already been pushed into the city by Israeli attacks on other areas of Gaza, and the city’s population is estimated at around 1.4 million. It is unclear where these people could find safety in the face of a military offensive.
The United Nations Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA) warned in a social media post that an Israeli offensive would inflict more suffering and death on the Palestinian population, which health authorities say may have killed more than 34,000 people since October.
An Israeli offensive in #Rafah it would mean more civilian suffering and death. The consequences would be devastating for 1.4 million people@UNRWA does not evacuate: the Agency will maintain a presence in Rafah for as long as possible and continue to provide vital assistance to people pic.twitter.com/8anQ8Eq6Gv
– UNRWA (@UNRWA) May 6, 2024
The evacuation order followed a night of intense Israeli bombardment that killed 22 people, including eight children, in the town.
Tel Aviv Tribune’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Rafah, noted that the order came “following the Hamas attack on the Karem Abu Salem crossing, known in Hebrew as Kerem Shalom, and a intense Israeli response, during which they carried out 11 air raids.” , targeting areas east of the city of Rafah.
“It is important to emphasize that so far, not all evacuation zones designated by the Israeli army are safe for displaced families. In fact, these areas are constantly under attack, whether in western Khan Younis or here in Rafah, where 1.5 million people are taking refuge,” he said.
In the impasse
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement that a military operation in Rafah was necessary because of Hamas’s refusal of negotiated proposals for a truce in Gaza under which it would release some prisoners.
A Hamas official said the group’s negotiating delegation was heading to Doha for “consultations” after the latest round of negotiations in Cairo failed to produce an agreement.
CIA Director Bill Burns is expected in Qatar on Monday for “emergency” talks on mediation efforts with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, a source told the news agency AFP.
Hamas negotiators maintained their position that any agreement must include a permanent end to the war inside the enclave, Palestinian officials said.
Israel has refused a full ceasefire, instead proposing a pause in fighting to allow for a prisoner exchange. Netanyahu is under increasing pressure to secure the release of the approximately 130 prisoners remaining in Gaza. However, it is also being pushed by the radical coalition partners to continue the war.
Tel Aviv Tribune’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Rafah, said there had been “a great sense of optimism” in recent days among Palestinians regarding negotiations in Cairo between Hamas and Israel.
“But this has diminished following media reports on the same points of friction between Hamas and Israel,” he said.
The Israeli call for the evacuation of citizens and refugees from #Rafahand the announced invasion, will lead to massacre.
Belgium is working on new sanctions against ISR. I will meet this afternoon with the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Malki. @pmofa
– Petra De Sutter (@pdsutter) May 6, 2024
Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter warned that an invasion of Rafah would lead to a “massacre” and said her country was working on new sanctions against Israel.