Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the evacuation of the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on the border with Egypt, where an estimated 1.4 million people have been displaced by the Israeli military offensive.
The Israeli Prime Minister's order comes ahead of an expected ground assault on the area, where Palestinian refugees, unable to leave the area, are living in makeshift camps or overcrowded UN-run shelters with severe shortages of food and medicine.
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A statement issued by Netanyahu’s office said: “It is impossible to achieve the war goal of eliminating Hamas and remaining four agitation Brigades in Rafah.
“On the other hand, it is clear that a large-scale operation in Rafah requires the evacuation of the civilian population from combat areas.
He added, “For this reason, the Prime Minister directed the Israeli Defense Forces and the defense establishment to present a dual plan to the government to evacuate the population and dissolve the battalions.”
The military escalation plan in Rafah has been met with international criticism, including from the United States and aid agencies.
President Joe Biden said he is considering it IsraelWhite House National Security spokesman John Kirby said that an Israeli ground attack in Rafah “is not something we support.”
The US State Department also said that an invasion of Rafah “would be a disaster.”
The population of Rafah before the war was about 280 thousand people. According to the United Nations, the city is now home to an additional 1.4 million people living with relatives, in shelters or in sprawling camps after fleeing fighting elsewhere in the country. Gaza.
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Growing fears for Rafah
The United Nations said that about 80% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people have been displaced, and more than a quarter of them suffer from hunger.
The President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said on Friday that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is the worst ever.
“I saw people needing food, water, sanitation issues,” Kate Forbes said. “We need to get humanitarian aid in.”
A displaced Palestinian boy flies a kite in the Khiam camp in Rafah. Photo: Reuters
On the other hand, the Executive Director of UNICEF said that any military escalation in Rafah would be “another devastating turning point” in the war.
Catherine Russell said that a ground invasion could leave thousands dead due to violence or lack of basic services, and further disrupt humanitarian aid. She also indicated that about 600,000 children took refuge in Rafah.
Palestinian children taking refuge in Rafah wait for food prepared by a charity kitchen amid a shortage of food supplies. Photo: Reuters
“We need Gaza’s remaining hospitals, shelters, markets and water networks to remain functional.
“Without it, hunger and disease would rise dramatically, killing more children.”
The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the military escalation in Rafah “crosses all red lines” and aims to expel the Palestinians from their lands.
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It is not clear where civilians stranded in Rafah can be evacuated to.
the Israeli attack It caused widespread destruction, especially in northern Gaza, and hundreds of thousands of people no longer had homes to return to.
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Egypt It also warned that any Palestinian movement across its borders would threaten the four-decade-old peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.
Israel has already launched air strikes on Rafah. Nearly twenty people, including women and children, were killed on Thursday night in bombing of Rafah and central Gaza.
Palestinians inspect the site of Israeli raids on a mosque and homes in Rafah. Photo: Reuters
The Gaza Ministry of Health said that 27,840 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, when a Hamas attack on Israel killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped about 250 others.
Palestinians carry their belongings at the site of an Israeli raid on a house in Rafah. Photo: Reuters
Hamas is still holding more than 130 hostages, but about 30 of them are believed to be dead.
