Israel’s military gears up to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah and confront Hamas holdouts in the southern Gaza Strip, a top Israeli defense official revealed Wednesday.
Despite global warnings of a humanitarian crisis, Israel remains resolute in its plans, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government signaling advancement without specifying a timeline.
In preparation, Israel’s Defense Ministry procured 40,000 tents capable of accommodating 10 to 12 individuals each, set to house relocated Palestinians.
Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies displays the swift erection of tent camps in Khan Younis, just 5 km from Rafah, reinforcing reports of impending evacuations.
While Israel’s war cabinet plans to convene within the next fortnight to greenlight civilian evacuations—a process anticipated to span roughly a month—the military stands ready for immediate action pending Netanyahu’s approval.
Rafah, bordering Egypt, shelters over a million Palestinians, many of whom fled prior Israeli offensives across Gaza. Fear grips residents like Aya, 30, who faces the daunting choice of leaving Rafah amidst uncertainty. Recent incidents, such as tent fires sparked by tank shells in nearby Al-Mawasi, underscore the perilous reality confronting displaced families.
