Israel has ordered some 100,000 Palestinians to leave the eastern part of Rafah, the last standing city in the Gaza Strip, amid fears that an upcoming IDF offensive against the city could end in a massacre of civilians.
The IDF ordered Gaza civilians to leave part of Rafah and head to Muwasi, an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone near the coast, in preparation for this morning’s offensive, and thousands were seen leaving en masse.
Civilians were seen loading what they could onto small pickup trucks and even donkeys, as they headed to tent camps set up by the IDF to accommodate the mass of people leaving Rafah, and the military claimed it had expanded assistance to the area, including the field. hospitals, tents, food and water,
More than half of Gaza’s population called Rafah their home since the retaliatory attack on the enclave began, seven months after Hamas’ brutal incursion into Israel.
Israel says its goal with the Rafah offensive was to eliminate remaining Hamas fighters. Israel maintains that the broader goal of the past seven months has been to eliminate Hamas.
But the terrorist group said it would fight the IDF attack, stating in a statement: “We confirm that any military offensive in Rafah will not be a picnic for the fascist occupation army.” Our brave resistance above them, the Qassam Brigades, is fully prepared to defend our people and defeat this enemy.”
Palestinians, including women and children living in the eastern part of Rafah, migrate to the western part of the country.
People flee the eastern areas of Rafah after the Israeli army began evacuating Palestinian civilians ahead of a threatened attack.
Smoke rises from different points after the Israeli attack on Rafah
Much of the world, and especially its allies, have condemned Israel’s decision to go ahead with the planned offensive.
The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said: ‘Israel’s evacuation orders to civilians in Rafah portend the worst: more war and famine. It is unacceptable. Israel must give up a ground offensive.
“The EU, together with the international community, can and must act to avoid such a scenario.”
A spokesman for the White House National Security Council said: ‘We cannot discuss IDF (Israeli military) operations. We have made our views clear on a major ground invasion of Rafah to the Israeli government, and the President will speak with the Prime Minister today.
‘We continue to believe that a hostage agreement is the best way to preserve the lives of the hostages and prevent an invasion of Rafah, where more than a million people are sheltered. “Those conversations are ongoing now.”
The Palestinian presidency called on Washington to prevent Israel from carrying out a large-scale invasion of Rafah, southern Gaza, to avoid a “massacre.”
A photograph taken on May 6, 2024 shows smoke billowing after the shelling east of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.
Much of the world, and especially its allies, have condemned Israel’s decision to go ahead with the planned offensive.
The war between Israel and Hamas has driven around 80% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million from their homes and caused extensive destruction in several towns and cities.
“We call on the US administration to intervene immediately to prevent this massacre… (and) warn of its dangerous repercussions,” the presidency said in a statement.
Egypt, one of the few countries directly involved in the negotiation between Israel and Hamas, warned that the military operation carries “serious humanitarian risks.”
The country’s Foreign Ministry also called on Israel to exercise the highest levels of self-restraint.
The war between Israel and Hamas has driven around 80% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million from their homes and caused extensive destruction in several towns and cities. The death toll in Gaza has soared to more than 34,500 people, according to local health officials.
The war began on October 7 when Hamas attacked southern Israel, kidnapping about 250 people and killing about 1,200, mostly civilians. Israel says militants are still holding about 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.