Israel has demanded Palestinians in areas of the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, to evacuate their premises and head towards what it terms the “expanded humanitarian zone” in Al-Mawasi, after the army took control of the main road separating the eastern and western sides of the city, signaling that the army is moving forward with its plans to launch a ground attack on Rafah.
The Israeli army also requested residents and displaced persons in Jabalia in northern Gaza to evacuate, stating that it would return to carry out operations there after noticing Hamas attempting to regain control of the area.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated that at least 37 Palestinians, 24 of them from central Gaza, were killed in airstrikes during the night in various locations across the strip, including Rafah, adjacent to the border with Egypt. The ministry does not differentiate between the number of civilian and militant casualties.
The Israeli army stated that its aircraft targeted dozens of sites across the strip during the past day, adding that ground forces killed around 30 fighters in the Zaitoun neighborhood.
Medics reported that an Israeli airstrike killed at least seven people in a house in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, all from one family.
Residents stated that Israeli tanks are stationed in the town.
In Rafah, residents told Reuters that the new evacuation orders issued by the army included areas in the city center, leaving no room for doubt that Israel intends to expand its ground assault there. The Ministry of Health stated that 16 people were killed in Rafah.
The Israeli army stated that it continues operations against Hamas fighters in eastern Rafah and on the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing.
Despite increased U.S. pressure and concerns expressed by residents and relief organizations, Israel says it will continue its incursion into Rafah, where over a million displaced persons have sought refuge due to the ongoing war for the past seven months.
Israeli tanks seized control of the main road separating the eastern and western sides of Rafah and effectively surrounded the eastern side in an attack that prompted Washington to suspend the delivery of some military aid to its ally.
Israel asserts that it cannot achieve victory in this war without eliminating thousands of Hamas fighters believed to still be present in Rafah.
The Israeli army stated on Saturday that around 300,000 residents of Gaza have fled to the outskirts so far.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that ongoing military operations have resulted in the deaths of nearly 35,000 Palestinians so far, in addition to causing extensive damage to the coastal enclave and creating a major humanitarian crisis.
The two vital crossings for delivering aid to Gaza remain closed today, Saturday. The Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA) stated that the Rafah crossing has been closed for the fifth day, while the Kerem Shalom crossing has been closed for about a week.
The latest evacuation orders came hours after the faltering of international ceasefire talks, as Hamas stated that Israel’s rejection of the ceasefire proposal it had accepted has returned matters to square one. Israel stated that the terms of the agreement do not meet its demands.
Hamas also indicated that it is reconsidering its negotiating policy. It did not clarify whether this means it will tighten its conditions for reaching an agreement, but it stated that it will consult with other Palestinian faction leaders aligned with it.
Israel states that it seeks an agreement that would release hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons, but it is not prepared to end the military offensive.