Israel has issued an evacuation order to Palestinians in parts of Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, citing a “limited scope” operation.
The order, delivered through Arabic text messages, phone calls, and flyers, instructs residents to move to an “expanded humanitarian zone” 20 km away.
This development comes amid an ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the militant Palestinian group governing Gaza.
A senior Hamas official has characterized the evacuation order as a “dangerous escalation” and attributed responsibility to both Israel and the US administration.
In contrast, Israel’s military has stated that the operation aims to encourage residents to evacuate the area without providing specific reasons or indicating potential further action.
The situation has raised concerns among international organizations and neighbouring countries, with the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees warning that an Israeli offensive in Rafah could have devastating consequences for the 1.4 million people sheltering there.
Egypt is currently mediating truce talks between Israel and Hamas, which may involve the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The US and Israel have publicly disagreed on the handling of the situation, with Israel’s Defense Minister linking the evacuation to the deadlock in indirect diplomacy and emphasizing the need for military action.
In contrast, Western powers and the UN have expressed concerns about the potential humanitarian impact of an Israeli offensive in Rafah.
