Israel’s military said on Monday it had begun encouraging residents of Rafah to evacuate the southern Gazan city as part of a ‘limited scope’ operation, but did not immediately confirm media reports this was part of preparation for a ground assault.

Seven months into its offensive against Hamas, Israel has said Rafah harbours thousands of the Palestinian Islamist group’s fighters and that victory is impossible without taking the city.

But with more than a million displaced Palestinians sheltering there, the prospect of a high-casualty operation worries Western powers and neighbouring Egypt.

In what appeared to be the beginning of a civilian evacuation ahead of a ground assault, the Israeli military called on Palestinians in eastern parts of Rafah to move to a nearby “humanitarian area”.

In a statement on Monday, the military said posters, text messages, phone calls and media announcements would be used to “encourage … the gradual movement of civilians in the specified areas”.

  • @[email protected]English
    11•7 months ago

    When they listened to Israel telling them to go to safe zones, they were bombed on the way and in the alleged safe zone. Rafah was a designated safe zone. Now they are told to go into a place with even less sanitary infrastructure, water and shelter.

    Israel is always aiming at killing as many civllians as it can get away with and people like you are trying to increase that number.

    • Granbo's Holy HotrodEnglish
      9•7 months ago

      The ultimate conservative Chad move. Step1. Say whatever you think gives you the most cover, usually the exact opposite of what you have planned. Step2. Do the most evil thing possible. Step3. Hide behind religion.