The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are preparing to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah ahead of their planned offensive there against Hamas, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
The Palestinians fear that the invasion of Rafah is very close
Citing Israeli and Egyptian officials, the Wall Street Journal reported that Israeli plans call for the first two to three weeks of the operation to involve the removal of civilians, coordinated with the US, Egypt and other Arab countries.
The evacuation reportedly includes moving civilians to the nearby town of Khan Younis, among other areas in Gaza, where Israel will set up shelters with tents, food and medical facilities.
The officials cited by the well-known Media said the IDF will gradually move troops into Rafah and target areas where they believe Hamas leaders and fighters are hiding.
“Aura of fear” – Continuous airstrikes are a prelude to the Israeli invasion of Rafah
UNRWA says there is a “palpable aura of fear” among displaced Palestinians who have gathered in southern Gaza’s Rafah area amid Israeli airstrikes and promises by Israeli officials that an invasion is imminent.
“Airstrikes in Rafah have heightened concerns about an escalation in this southernmost area of Gaza, which is already home to more than half of Gaza’s population,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its latest assessment of conditions in war zone.
A senior UNRWA official stressed the importance of allowing civilians safe passage to relocate from Rafah before the ground invasion by Israeli forces begins.
An estimated 1.4 million Palestinians have taken refuge in Rafah – an area of about 64 square kilometers – hoping to be safe from the Israeli attacks that have pulverized northern, central and southern Gaza over the past six months.
Foreign governments, including the US, Israel’s staunchest ally, and international aid agencies are warning of a humanitarian catastrophe if Israeli forces go ahead with their plan to launch a ground invasion of the Rafah area.
