Israel continues military operation in Rafah and calls for the evacuation of thousands of Palestinians

Smoke from southern Israel has been seen rising over the Gaza horizon as fighting continues. intense fighting north of the strip,

a senior spokesperson of israeli defense forces (FDI) said aviation was functioning air strikes in northern Gaza,

But fighting also continues in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, where Israel launched a “limited” operation last week. crossing the border with egypt In an effort to cut off Hamas supply lines.

IDF continues operations in Rafah in search of terrorists

“Since the beginning of our precise operation against Hamas in Rafah We have eliminated dozens of terroristsIDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said, “We have discovered underground terrorist tunnels and a large quantity of weapons.”

“Before our operation We urge citizens to temporarily move to humanitarian areas And move away from the crossfire that Hamas is facing. “Our war is against Hamas, not against the people of Gaza.”

More evacuation orders for thousands of Palestinians

On Saturday, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for thousands more Palestinians, advising them to leave Rafah and move to the “extended humanitarian zone” on the al-Mawasi coast.

According to the United Nations, About 150,000 Palestinians have already fled Rafah Since last week’s evacuation orders, many more people have moved towards al-Mawasi.

However, some aid groups have raised concerns about conditions there. Hundreds of thousands of people crammed into the sandbar have already been swept away Inadequate supply of food, water and health care

,

Real threat of famine for displaced people

Approximately 1.4 million Palestinians sought refuge in Rafah on the orders of the IDF, which declared the city a safe zone. Israel has for weeks been threatening to launch a massive ground assault on the city to eliminate Hamas battalions it claims are based there.

But those operational plans have come up against sharp criticism From humanitarian groups and world leaders, including Israel’s staunchest ally, the United States.

Last week, President Joe Biden threatened to cut off some weapons supplies to Israel if it moved forward with plans to invade the city.

The Israeli army continues to expand its operation in the southern city of Rafah. When Israel launched its operation in Rafah last week, it crossed the border with Egypt Main entry point for humanitarian aid

,

However, humanitarian agencies are now warning that Supplies of food and other essential commodities are critically low,