ISTANBUL

The Israeli army issued on Monday morning urgent evacuation orders to Palestinian residents and displaced individuals in several areas of eastern Rafah ahead of a possible ground invasion, urging them to immediately relocate to the town of al-Mawasi.

Rafah is home to 1.4 million displaced Palestinians who have taken refuge from the war that started after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas incursion that claimed around 1,200 lives and took 250 as hostages.

Since then, the Israeli onslaught has killed nearly 34,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, besides causing widespread hunger and disease and reducing much of Gaza to a rubble.

"The Israeli army is expanding the humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi and urging Palestinians to temporarily evacuate from the eastern neighborhoods of Rafah to the expanded humanitarian zone," army spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X.

"The expansion of the humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi includes field hospitals, tents, large quantities of food, water, medicine, and other supplies," he added.

"The army also allows collaboration with certain international organizations and other countries to expand the scope of humanitarian aid being delivered to the Gaza Strip," he said, adding that "this process will proceed gradually based on ongoing assessments of the situation."

"In this context, leaflets will be distributed, text messages and phone calls will be sent, and information is being broadcast through Arab media outlets," Adraee said.

"Army will continue working to achieve the objectives of the war, including dismantling Hamas and returning all Israeli hostages," he added.

The military also posted maps on its social media accounts illustrating evacuation routes.

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

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is said to have briefed his American counterpart Lloyd Austin on the decision to begin evacuation of residents from the southern city.

Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets over the city, urging residents in the eastern areas to evacuate and head towards Al-Mawasi. The brochures included a map of the area and its boundaries, as well as the areas that need to be cleared.

The handouts warned against returning to Gaza City or northern areas of the Strip or "approaching the eastern and southern security fence [bordering Egypt]."

Israel 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 to civilians there.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul