Israeli military forces have commenced airstrikes in Rafah, triggering the evacuation of parts of the southern Gaza city. This city has been a refuge for over a million displaced individuals.
What Happened: On Monday, residents of Rafah were advised to move to an “expanded humanitarian zone” 20 km away, Reuters reported. This action is in response to rising fears of a full-scale assault against Hamas, as ceasefire talks in Cairo remain inconclusive.
Al-Aqsa TV, affiliated with Hamas, reported that the Israeli military targeted areas in eastern Rafah near neighborhoods that received evacuation orders. Israel has yet to comment on the situation.
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One refugee, Abu Raed, voiced his concerns to Reuters, saying, “It has been raining heavily and we don’t know where to go. I have been worried that this day may come, I have now to see where I can take my family.”
A senior Hamas official has described the evacuation order as a “dangerous escalation” with potential repercussions. He stated, “The U.S. administration, alongside the occupation, bears responsibility for this terrorism,” referring to Israel’s alliance with Washington.
Why It Matters: Aid agencies including British charity ActionAid, have cautioned that the evacuation order could trigger a severe humanitarian crisis in the densely populated coastal enclave, which has already been suffering from seven months of war. The Israeli military has characterized the evacuation as a “limited scope” operation, without providing specific reasons or potential indications of offensive action.
Israel has been threatening to launch incursions in Rafah, which it alleges is a haven for thousands of Hamas fighters and potentially dozens of hostages. This potential high-casualty operation is causing concern among Western powers and neighboring Egypt, which is attempting to mediate a new round of truce talks between Israel and Hamas. This comes after Israel offered Hamas a "generous" proposal of a 40-day sustained ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of captives held in the Palestinian enclave.
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