By BBC News World
May 6, 2024, 10:46 AM EDT
The Israeli army gave the order this Monday to evacuate nearly 100,000 people from Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, in the face of a possible military attack.
“For your safety, the army asks you to evacuate immediately,” says one of the thousands of pamphlets that were distributed in some areas of this Palestinian town where about 1.5 million people live.
The warning comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that he will attack large areas of Rafah, despite warnings from the UN and even the United States.
Netanyahu noted that the imminent attack on the southern Gaza Strip is aimed at dismantling the last battalions who are at the service of the radical group Hamas and free the hostages.
Since the Hamas attack on different populations in Israel on October 7, a conflict began that has left more than 34,000 people dead, most of them inhabitants of the Gaza Strip and where children and women have suffered the worst. consequences.
The announcement comes a few hours after the Israeli government confirmed the failure of talks with Hamas representatives to reach a ceasefire.
Previously, the UN, through its spokespersons in the area, has indicated that an attack on Rafah would create a catastrophic situation.
“An Israeli offensive on Rafah would mean more civilian suffering and deaths. “The consequences would be devastating,” said the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA),
“The agency will maintain a presence in Rafah for as long as possible and will continue to provide vital aid to people,” it added.
Israel also noted that this Sunday there had been an attack on an Israeli base near Gaza that left four soldiers dead and that according to its spokesmen, was carried out by Hamas militants.
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