In a significant development, the Israeli army ordered the evacuation of thousands of people in the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Monday. Thus, hinting at the long-promised ground invasion.
This announcement further complicates the ceasefire efforts brokered by international mediators like the director of the CIA. The key players Hamas and Qatar also warned that the invasion of Rafah could further stall the talks.
Israeli Army Spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani has stated that approximately 100,000 evacuees have been instructed to relocate to an Israel-declared humanitarian zone known as Muwasi.
He further announced that Israel is preparing for the “limited scope operation”. But he hasn’t specified whether it’s a beginning of a broader invasion or not.
Meanwhile he also declared that Israel has published the map of the evacuation area,
The orders are being issued through leaflets dropped from the sky, text messages and radio broadcasts.
Later, taking to social platform X, the Israeli has declared that it would act with ““extreme force” against militants.
This move comes around the time, when Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week warned that the army would move inside the town “with or without a deal” to destroy Hamas, as it considers Rafah the last stronghold of Hamas.