JERUSALEM (AP) – The Israeli military on Monday ordered tens of thousands of people in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah to begin evacuation, signaling a long-promised ground invasion may be imminent.
The announcement complicated last-ditch efforts by international mediators, including the CIA director, to broker a ceasefire. Hamas and his main intermediary, Qatar, have warned that an invasion of Rafah could derail negotiations.
Israel has described Rafah as Hamas’ last major stronghold after a seven-month war, and its leaders have repeatedly said a ground invasion is needed to defeat the Islamic militants.
Military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said about 100,000 people had been ordered to move to a nearby Israeli-declared humanitarian zone called Mwasi. He said Israel was preparing a “limited-scope operation” and did not say whether this was the beginning of a broader invasion of the city. However, in October last year, Israel did not formally announce the start of the ground invasion, which continues to this day.
The move came a day after Hamas militants carried out a deadly rocket attack from the area, killing three Israeli soldiers.
Shoshani said Israel has published maps of evacuation zones and orders are being issued through air-dropped leaflets, text messages and radio broadcasts.
He said Israel was increasing humanitarian assistance to Mwasi, including field hospitals, tents, food and water.
Israel’s invasion plan for Rafah issued a worldwide alarm Because it has the potential to harm more than 1 million people. Palestinian civilians taking refuge there.
Some 1.4 million Palestinians, more than half of Gaza’s population, have crowded into the town and its surroundings. Most of them have fled their homes elsewhere in the territory to escape the Israeli onslaught and now face the risk of another devastating action or even being the brunt of a new attack. They live in crowded tent camps, overcrowded UN shelters or crowded apartment blocks, with sanitation systems and medical infrastructure failing and dependent on international aid for food.
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has repeatedly urged Israel not to carry out an invasion, saying it does not have a credible plan to protect civilians.
However, the prime minister said this despite calls from the US, Egypt and Qatar for a ceasefire agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Last week, the military reiterated that it would march into the town “with or without a deal” to achieve its goal of destroying it. hamas extremist organization.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant insisted on Sunday that Hamas was not serious about the deal and warned that “strong operations will be carried out in Rafah in the near future.” His comments came after Hamas attacked a key Israeli border point on Sunday to deliver aid, killing three soldiers.
Shoshani declined to say whether the upcoming Rafah operation was a response to Sunday’s killings. He said the incident would not affect the amount of much-needed aid entering Gaza as other transit points remain operational.
But it did not comment on the U.S. warning not to invade, and it was not clear whether the evacuation had been coordinated with Egypt.
Egypt, Israel’s strategic partner, believes that any Israeli military occupation of the demilitarized Gaza-Egypt border or any move to push Palestinians into Egypt threatens the 40-year-old peace agreement with Israel. He said it would be.
