The Israeli military has issued an urgent evacuation notice to residents of eastern Rafah, prompted by a warning from the country's defense minister of imminent "intense action" in the region.
The notice comes hours after the Netanyahu-led Israeli government banned and raided the Al Jazeera television network in the country, branding it a mouthpiece for Hamas.
Avichay Adraee, the Head of the Arab media division of the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, emphasized the necessity for immediate evacuation, directing residents to designated humanitarian areas at checkpoints for their safety.
Speaking to journalists, Adraee estimated the evacuation to involve approximately 100,000 people.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Galant's recent address to troops stationed within Gaza signals preparations for heightened military operations in Rafah and surrounding areas.
Despite warnings from humanitarian agencies and governments worldwide against a full-scale Israeli ground invasion of Rafah, concerns persist over increased suffering and casualties among the 1.2 million displaced Palestinians who sought refuge in Rafah from Israeli bombardments elsewhere in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Northern Gaza is already confronting a severe famine, worsened by months of conflict, as underscored by the World Food Programme.
The IDF has announced that notices advising temporary relocation to humanitarian areas will be disseminated through flyers, SMS messages, phone calls, and Arabic media broadcasts.
"The IDF will persist in its pursuit of Hamas throughout Gaza until all hostages held in captivity are safely returned home," stated the military.
