Israel mandates fresh Rafah evacuations ahead of expansion plans

Israel has announced new evacuations in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, as it prepares to intensify its military operations there. The Israeli military is also targeting areas in northern Gaza where Hamas militants are believed to have regrouped.

The situation in Gaza is deteriorating, with intense fighting near Rafah disrupting access to vital aid crossings. This escalation has prompted over 110,000 people to flee towards the northern parts of Gaza.

Despite the extensive preparations, the Israeli military’s actions in Rafah have not yet escalated to a full-scale invasion. However, the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations have repeatedly expressed concerns that a major offensive in Rafah could severely disrupt aid efforts and lead to significant civilian casualties. Currently, around 1.4 million Palestinians, half of Gaza’s population, are taking refuge in Rafah, many displaced by earlier Israeli operations.

In addition to the movements in Rafah, the Israeli army has instructed residents of Jabaliya and Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza to evacuate to safer areas in the west of Gaza City. The military has indicated that it will strike these areas with significant force, describing them as active combat zones.

Meanwhile, in northern Gaza, fierce battles are ongoing, particularly around the Zeitoun district on the outskirts of Gaza City. This part of Gaza was among the first to be targeted in Israel’s ground offensive, with claims from Israel late last year of having largely dismantled Hamas’s capabilities there.

Recent strikes in central Gaza have been deadly. Overnight, at least 19 civilians, including eight women and eight children, were killed in airstrikes on the towns of Zawaida, Maghazi, and Deir al Balah. These casualties were confirmed by local hospital sources and an Associated Press journalist.

Overall, the Israeli military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 34,800 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children, and has led to the displacement of about 80% of the Gaza population.