Watan-The Israeli occupation army announced today, Monday, that it has ordered residents to evacuate the eastern outskirts of the Rafah area in southern Gaza in preparation for a military operation there.
In a statement, the Israeli occupation army requested residents and displaced persons in the municipality of Al-Shawka, as well as the neighborhoods of Al-Salam, Al-Janeena, Tiba Zraa, and Al-Bayouk, to immediately evacuate and head towards what it called the “expanded humanitarian zone” in Al-Mawasi, a coastal area extending between Rafah and Khan Yunis.
Meanwhile, the Israeli broadcasting authority reported that the army began evacuating residents from the eastern areas of Rafah this morning as part of preparations for a military operation, noting that the army dropped leaflets urging the residents there to leave their homes and head to the expanded humanitarian zone.
🟠تل أبيب أبلغت مصر خلال الليل ببداية الإخلاء السكاني لشرق رفح
🟠العملية العسكرية ستشمل الجانب الفلسطيني من معبر رفح
🟠سيتم إخلاء 100 ألف فلسطيني من رفح
🟠قرار بدء عملية الإخلاء من رفح اتخذه مجلس الحرب أمس الأحد
🟠عملية الإخلاء الجزئي بموافقة المستوى السياسي، وهي…
— Sputnik Arabic (@sputnik_ar) May 6, 2024
Military Operation Decision
The Israeli Army radio mentioned that the decision to initiate the evacuation of Rafah was made last night in a cabinet meeting.
According to the Israeli occupation army, the evacuation operation includes around 100,000 Palestinians residing in the eastern neighborhoods of Rafah.
Reuters reported witnesses saying that some families have already begun evacuating from the eastern area of Rafah.
This development comes after the Israeli army had amassed large forces on the southern borders of the Gaza Strip.
جيش الإحتلال سيقوم بعملية عسكرية محدودة في شرق رفح حسب الإعلان وقد تتطور العملية العسكرية
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ويطالب سكان رفح بالنزوح للمناطق باللون الأصفر حول خان يونس
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النزوح قد يشمل ١٠٠ ألف شخص – ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله pic.twitter.com/uvKNQw4eiC— القوة العسكرية (@i___guns) May 6, 2024
Hundreds of military vehicles deployed
Satellite images revealed yesterday that the Israeli army deployed around 300 military vehicles near the borders of Rafah.
As the evacuation operations commenced, Israeli Finance Minister Betsalel Smotrich urged the occupation army to invade Rafah immediately.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly declared his intention to invade Rafah under the pretext of eliminating Hamas brigades in the area.
This is despite American and international warnings about the humanitarian consequences of any military operation in the city, which shelters around 1.5 million displaced people.
Netanyahu stated on several occasions that his forces would enter Rafah, whether a prisoner exchange deal is reached or not.
In response to Netanyahu and his ministers’ threats, Palestinian resistance vowed that the occupation would pay a heavy price if its forces intrude into Rafah.