GENEVA

France on Monday voiced "firm opposition" to any Israeli military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, warning that any forced displacement of civilians under Israel’s new relocation order would constitute a "war crime.”

"France reiterates its firm opposition to an Israeli offensive on Rafah, where more than 1.3 million people are taking refuge in a situation of great distress," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Forced displacement of a civilian population constitutes a war crime," the ministry added.

In a step widely seen as the prelude to an offensive, the Israeli army on Monday issued urgent evacuation orders to Palestinian residents and displaced individuals in eastern Rafah, urging them to immediately relocate.

According to Israeli Army Radio, the decision to evacuate residents from eastern Rafah was taken late Sunday, adding that around 100,000 civilians believed to be present in the area are set to be evacuated.

Since Oct. 7, the Israeli onslaught has killed nearly 34,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, besides causing a humanitarian catastrophe.

Nearly seven months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine, according to the UN.

Israel also stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January said it is "plausible" that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and ordered Tel Aviv to stop such acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided.