Israel ordered Palestinians in more parts of Gaza’s southern city of Rafah to evacuate and travel to what it calls an extended humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi on Saturday, indicating that the military is moving forward with its plans for a ground attack on Rafah.
A military spokesperson also urged residents and displaced people in the Jabalia neighborhood of northern Gaza, as well as 11 other neighborhoods in the enclave, to evacuate to shelters west of Gaza City.
24 Palestinians were killed overnight when Israeli jets struck multiple places in central Gaza.
Despite strong US pressure and concerns expressed by residents and humanitarian organizations, Israel has announced that it will conduct an incursion into Rafah, where more than 1 million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge during the seven-month conflict.
According to Israel’s military, approximately 300,000 Gazans have already fled to Al-Mawasi.
Israel claims it cannot win the battle unless it removes thousands of Islamist Hamas fighters from Rafah, which it thinks are deployed there.
