The Israeli military has issued an evacuation order to tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, suggesting a potential ground invasion is imminent, Associated Press reports.
Israeli army spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani announced the evacuation, stating that some 100,000 people were ordered to move to a nearby humanitarian zone called Muwasi. Evacuation orders were distributed through air-dropped leaflets, text messages, and radio broadcasts. Israel has expanded humanitarian aid into Muwasi, including field hospitals, tents, food, and water. The Israeli army has warned of “extreme force” against militants and urged the population to evacuate immediately for their safety.
The announcement has raised global alarm due to the potential harm to more than a million Palestinian civilians in Rafah, who have fled their homes elsewhere in Gaza to escape Israeli attacks and are already facing dire living conditions. UNRWA warned of catastrophic consequences of a Rafah offensive, emphasizing that it would continue to provide assistance despite the risks.
Despite warnings from Hamas and Qatar that an invasion of Rafah could derail peace talks, Israel views the city as a crucial stronghold for Hamas and insists that military action is necessary to defeat the group.
