The Israeli military has ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians to leave Rafah, amid growing fears of a ground attack on the southern Gaza city, where 1.4 million people have been displaced by Israel’s war on Gaza found refuge.
An Israeli army spokesperson told reporters that around 100,000 people in eastern Rafah would have to be evacuated to “an expanded humanitarian zone” on the coast.
The order came Monday shortly before Hamas approved a proposed ceasefire in the seven-month war in Gaza presented by mediators Qatar and Egypt.
Israel said the proposal did not meet its demands and said its war cabinet had decided the country would continue operations on Rafah.
Late Monday evening, the Israeli army intensified its bombardment of the city.
“There has been an escalation of air raids and artillery shelling in the eastern part of Rafah,” Tel Aviv Tribune’s Tareq Abu Azzoum said, reporting from Rafah.
“We are talking about incessant bombing of residential houses. The vast majority of residents have started to flee the area where the Israeli army is trying to mobilize more troops,” he added.
Here’s how the world reacted to Israel’s evacuation order:
Hamas
Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told the Reuters news agency that Israel’s evacuation order and expected offensive constitute a “dangerous escalation that will have consequences.”
“We confirm that any military offensive in Rafah will not be a picnic for the fascist occupying army. Our courageous resistance, the Qassam Brigades, is fully prepared to defend our people and defeat this enemy,” Hamas said in a statement.
Israel
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the country’s war aims remained the same.
“Our just war in Gaza continues with exactly the same objectives: the release of all hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” he said.
Palestinian Authority
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said: “The occupation authorities have actually started preparing to commit the greatest crime of genocide by invading Rafah. »
“The American administration, which provides financial and military support to the occupation and opposes the international community to prevent the implementation of resolutions of international legitimacy and the cessation of aggression, is the one that encourages Netanyahu and its leaders to continue their massacres against the Palestinian people,” he said in a statement.
People of Rafah
Mohammad Al Najar, 23, who lives in western Rafah, told Reuters people had nowhere to go.
“No area is safe. All that remains in Gaza is death. I wish I could erase these last seven months from my memory. Many of our dreams and hopes have faded,” he said.
Aminah Adwan told Reuters: “The biggest genocide will take place, the biggest catastrophe will take place in Rafah. »
“I call on the entire Arab world to intervene for a ceasefire. Let them step in and save us from what we find ourselves in.
Egypt
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry in a statement urged Israel to exercise the “highest level of restraint” and avoid any further escalation at this “very sensitive time” as negotiations for a truce and the release of captives are underway. course.
The Egyptian statement said an Israeli attack on Rafah would create “extreme humanitarian dangers that would threaten more than a million Palestinians in this area.”
Jordan
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said in a statement that “another massacre of Palestinians is being prepared.”
“Failing to prevent the massacre will constitute an indelible stain on the CMCI (international community). Too many massacres have been authorized. Enough.”
Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Foreign Ministry has warned of the dangers posed by Israeli forces targeting the city of Rafah.
“The ministry affirms the Kingdom’s categorical rejection of the flagrant and continuous violations by the occupying forces of all international resolutions calling for the cessation of these massacres and their violation of international law and international humanitarian law without deterrence, which aggravates the humanitarian crisis and limits international peace efforts. “, indicated the ministry.
European Union
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said: “Israel’s evacuation orders for Rafah civilians portend the worst: more war and famine. »
“This is unacceptable. Israel must renounce a ground offensive and implement UN Security Council Resolution 2728. The EU, together with the international community, can and must act to prevent such a scenario,” he said. Borrell said on social media platform X.
France
The French Embassy in Israel issued a statement saying that President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Netanyahu by telephone on Sunday.
Macron reiterated his firm opposition to the planned Israeli offensive on Rafah and the urgent need to ensure massive entry of humanitarian aid through all access points to the Gaza Strip, the embassy said.
The French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs said the country “also recalls that the forced displacement of a civilian population constitutes a war crime under international law.”
UNITED STATES
In a statement, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said Monday that the United States “cannot speak in favor of (Israeli military) operations.”
“We have made our views on a major ground invasion of Rafah clear to the Israeli government, and the President (Joe Biden) will speak with the Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) today. We continue to believe that a hostage agreement is the best way to preserve the lives of the hostages and avoid an invasion of Rafah, where more than a million people are sheltering. These talks are currently underway.
United Kingdom
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK was “deeply concerned” about a possible offensive in Rafah.
“We are deeply concerned by the prospect of a military incursion into Rafah given the number of civilians sheltering there and the importance of this crossing for aid,” he told Sky News. .
David Lammy, the UK’s shadow foreign secretary, said an Israeli ground attack on Rafah would be “catastrophic”.
“This must not go ahead,” the Labor Party politician wrote on X, calling for an immediate ceasefire, release of captives and unfettered aid to Gaza.
United Nations Agencies
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said: “An Israeli offensive in Rafah would lead to more civilian suffering and death. »
“The consequences would be devastating for 1.4 million people. UNRWA is not evacuating: the Agency will maintain a presence in Rafah for as long as possible and continue to provide life-saving assistance to people,” the agency said in a social media post.
James Elder, a UNICEF spokesman, said a military offensive on Rafah would be “horrible”.
“As mind-boggling as it is, it seems to be happening,” he told Tel Aviv Tribune, warning it would be “disaster upon disaster.”
“There is nowhere to go. This idea of safe zones, which was first mooted in November, completely ignores the fact that a safe zone – it’s not just about not bombing it, even if safe zones are bombed – it’s about ensuring people have access to water, sanitation and food. ” said the elder.
NGOs and human rights organizations
Save the Children warned that time was running out to protect children in Rafah before the expected assault.
“We hoped this day would never come,” said Inger Ashing, CEO of the humanitarian group, warning that an incursion would not only endanger the lives of more than 600,000 children but would also seriously affect the humanitarian response in Gaza .
“Forcibly displacing people from Rafah while further disrupting the humanitarian response will likely seal the fate of many children,” Ashing said, urging countries to “act now” to protect civilians and prevent atrocities.
Jan Egeland, president of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said: “The Israeli military offensive in Rafah could lead to the deadliest phase of this conflict, inflicting horrific suffering on an estimated 1.4 million displaced civilians in the area. region. »
He noted that the area is already overcrowded and lacking vital services.
“The absence of these basic guarantees of safety and return, as required by international humanitarian law, qualifies Israel’s resettlement directives as forcible transfer, amounting to a serious violation of international law,” he said. declared.
“Any Israeli military operation in Rafah – which has become the largest cluster of displaced camps in the world – will result in potential mass atrocities,” Egeland added.