IDF Tells Palestinians to Evacuate Parts of Rafah
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) warned Palestinian civilians to evacuate parts of eastern Rafah, on Gaza’s southern tip, ahead of a long-anticipated incursion into the city.
For Context: While Israel seeks to eliminate Hamas’ remaining battalions in Rafah, the city has also been densely packed with hundreds of thousands of refugees, who fled south in earlier stages of the war. U.S. officials and others have warned Israel against going into Rafah, citing the potential human cost, and some hoped a recent ceasefire proposal could stave off an incursion. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on his intent to send Israeli forces into the city last week, as hardline officials argued the war could not end without such an incursion.
The Details: The IDF is reportedly evacuating civilians to a new expanded humanitarian zone further north in Gaza. “The IDF will continue to operate in order to realize the goals of the war, including the dismantling of Hamas and the return of all the hostages,” the IDF said. Hamas responded by saying any Israeli incursion would not be a “picnic.”
How the Media Covered It: News coverage echoed past divides on Israel. Al Jazeera (Lean Left bias), recently banned from Israel by Netanyahu’s government, highlighted a quote from one of its reporters on its homepage, calling the evacuation “a truly unspeakable humanitarian catastrophe.” The Jerusalem Post (Center bias), which has favored Israel, highlighted that the IDF was working “to allow an increase of humanitarian aid.” Some headlines differed in attributing the evacuation order to “Israel” or “the IDF” specifically.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
IDF begins evacuating civilians from eastern Rafah northwardThe IDF has begun evacuating civilians from eastern Rafah to a new expanded humanitarian zone which includes al-Mawasi and parts of Khan Yunis and central Gaza, the IDF announced on Monday morning. The evacuation comes ahead of planned IDF operations in the Rafah area.
The new humanitarian zone includes field hospitals, tents, and increased provisions of food, water, medicine, and other supplies.
Additionally, the IDF is working in cooperation with international organizations and several countries to allow an increase of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
The IDF, in accordance with a decision made...
From the Left
Israel orders Rafah evacuation as Gaza truce talks stallThe Israeli army appears set to launch its long-threatened assault on Rafah as it instructs Palestinians to leave parts of the city in southern Gaza.
Israeli forces called on Monday for people in Rafah, into which huge numbers of displaced Palestinians were previously pushed, to evacuate to “an expanded humanitarian area”. The move came as Israel and Hamas blamed one another for a breakdown in truce negotiations.
The Israeli military said in social media posts that it “encourages” residents in eastern Rafah to move to an area in al-Mawasi refugee...
From the Right
Israel urges Palestinians to evacuate Rafah ahead of expected ground operation in Hamas strongholdIsrael is preparing to launch what is expected to be a massive ground operation inside Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where some 1.5 million Palestinians have taken shelter. The Israeli army has begun ordering tens of thousands of Palestinians living in the city to evacuate.
On Monday, Israel’s Defense Forces ordered an evacuation of Rafah, signaling that a long-promised ground operation could be imminent. The Israeli army has described Rafah as the last significant Hamas stronghold after seven months of war, and its leaders have repeatedly said clearing Rafah is necessary...
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