Israel has ordered the evacuation of Palestinians from parts of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The order was issued on Monday (May 6). The order is believed to have been issued as part of the country’s preparations for a possible military operation in the city. Almost half of the valley’s residents have taken refuge in the city since the Israeli occupation of Gaza began. British news agency Reuters reported this news.
The Israeli army has expanded the ‘humanitarian zone’ twenty kilometers away by distributing leaflets, telephone calls and leaflets in Arabic.
Several explosions were heard in the eastern part of Rafah city after noon. According to local residents and Hamas, Israel carried out airstrikes targeting some houses. Smoke was seen billowing from some areas.
A senior official in Gaza’s ruling group, the Palestinian independence movement Hamas, said the Israeli order to withdraw would escalate tensions and have consequences.
The official, Sami Abu Zuhri, pointed to Israel’s ally the United States and said that the US administration is responsible for this terrorism along with the occupiers.
The Israeli army said it was encouraging residents of the town of Rafah to evacuate under a limited operation. They did not specify the reason for such initiative. It did not even confirm whether there would be an operation in Rafah later.
Some Palestinians were seen leaving with children and belongings on donkey carts. Many are walking on muddy roads leaving their belongings in the rain.
Abu Raid, a refugee, said, “It is raining heavily. We don’t know where to go. The day I dreaded would come. Now I have to think about where I will go with my family.
Some witnesses said Israel was trying to move people from the area surrounding Rafah into already crowded areas. There is no place left to live in these areas.
A displaced Palestinian said the biggest massacre and the biggest disaster will happen in Rafah. I call on the entire Arab world to intervene for a ceasefire. Let us intervene and save us.
Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7. According to Israel, 1,200 Israelis were killed in the attack. At that time, armed fighters took a total of 253 hostages to Gaza. In response to this attack, Israel launched a counter-attack on Gaza on the same day. According to Gaza health authorities, more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed so far in seven months of Israeli air and ground attacks.
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