Israel is preparing to evacuate over a million Palestinian civilians living in Rafah ahead of a six-week military operation starting in May, reports suggest.
Lasting two to three weeks, the evacuation will relocate civilians from Gaza’s southernmost city to nearby Khan Younis and other areas, where Israel plans to set up shelters with food and medical facilities, Egyptian officials told the Wall Street Journal. Satellite images of the region show a tent compound just west of the Khan Younis that has grown in size over the past week, AP reported.
“One, it’s going to happen. Two, we’re going to have a very tight operational plan because it’s very complex there. Three, there’s a humanitarian response that’s happening at the same time,” said an Israeli security official.
Washington has voiced concerns about the humanitarian implications of the proposed evacuation of the southern Gaza city, which is now hosting up to 1.5 million people who have fled Israel’s bombs from elsewhere in the territory.
Matthew Miller, a US State Department spokesman, saying: “We don’t want to see Palestinians evacuated from Rafah unless it is to return to their homes.”
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, on Sunday vowed to “increase the military and diplomatic pressure on Hamas”, in an apparent nod to Israel’s upcoming offensive.
He has repeatedly insisted it is the only way to finish Hamas off and secure the release of more than 120 remaining Israeli hostages.
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