Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the military to devise plans for the evacuation of civilians from Rafah, signaling a potential ground assault on the southern Gaza city, his office stated on Friday.
With more than 1.3 million people in Rafah, the majority displaced from other parts of Gaza, according to the United Nations, Netanyahu announced that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would imminently enter Rafah, described as Hamas’s last stronghold.
As the IDF campaign progresses southward through Gaza, many Palestinians have sought refuge in Rafah. However, the city borders Egypt to the south, with the border closed for months, leaving uncertainty about potential escape routes.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office highlighted the necessity to eliminate Hamas while acknowledging the need to evacuate civilians from combat zones. Netanyahu directed the IDF and defense establishment to formulate a plan for both evacuating civilians and dismantling Hamas battalions.
Rafah stands as the last major population center in Gaza not occupied by the IDF, accommodating a swelling population of displaced Palestinians. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the military escalation plan, considering it a perilous precursor to mass displacement.
Palestinians in Rafah expressed fear and desperation, with nowhere else to seek refuge if Israel were to enter the city. There are concerns about the lack of essential supplies in other parts of Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The Israeli military operation’s top commander for southern Gaza stated that no plan currently exists to minimize civilian casualties in Rafah. The absence of such a plan raises international concerns about the potential humanitarian catastrophe in the densely populated city.
US President Joe Biden criticized Israel’s military conduct, describing it as “over the top” and emphasized the urgency of providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations warned of the dire situation in Rafah, fearing a catastrophic outcome if a ground assault occurs.
