Israeli Military Demands Rafah Evacuation During Eid Holiday/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israel has ordered the evacuation of Rafah in southern Gaza, signaling a potential new ground assault. The move comes during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr and amid global concern over humanitarian conditions. Prime Minister Netanyahu has also endorsed a controversial plan to relocate Gaza residents.
Gaza Rafah Evacuation Quick Look
- Israeli military orders mass evacuations in Rafah, hinting at new operations
- Evacuation notice issued during Eid al-Fitr, intensifying humanitarian crisis
- 15 medics killed in Rafah buried as anger grows
- Netanyahu endorses Trump-backed Gaza resettlement plan amid global outcry
Israeli Military Demands Rafah Evacuation During Eid Holiday
Deep Look
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli military on Monday issued broad evacuation orders in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and surrounding areas, raising fears of a renewed and potentially large-scale ground offensive in the already battered Palestinian enclave.
The order, delivered during Eid al-Fitr — a major Muslim holiday — instructed residents to relocate to the coastal zone of Muwasi, a crowded area of makeshift shelters with minimal resources. The evacuation adds to the already staggering humanitarian toll from months of conflict and displacement, affecting nearly 2 million Palestinians.
Earlier in March, Israel resumed combat operations against Hamas after ending a brief ceasefire and further cut off all humanitarian aid, including food, water, and medicine. The goal: to pressure Hamas into accepting modifications to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement.
Previous Rafah Assault and Ceasefire Fallout
Last May, Israel launched a major ground operation in Rafah, leaving much of the city in ruins. During that operation, Israeli forces captured the Rafah-Egypt border crossing and a key corridor meant to block weapons smuggling. Despite the January truce agreement requiring Israel’s withdrawal from that corridor, Israel refused, citing security concerns.
Red Crescent Medics Buried After Israeli Strike
At the heart of the recent outrage were funerals held for 15 emergency workers — including eight Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics, six Gaza Civil Defense staff, and a UN employee — killed last week by Israeli fire in Rafah.
According to Raed al-Nems, a Red Crescent spokesperson, the paramedics were clearly marked and wearing official gear. “They were killed in cold blood,” he said, as mourners attended funeral prayers beneath Red Crescent banners.
The Israeli military said its forces fired at multiple vehicles that “raised suspicion” for moving without lights or signals. It also claimed a Hamas operative and several militants were among the dead. Footage shared by the UN showed rescue workers recovering bodies nearly a week after the incident.
Netanyahu Endorses Controversial Gaza Resettlement Plan
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added new fuel to international criticism by declaring that Israel would implement Donald Trump’s resettlement plan for Gaza, calling it “voluntary emigration.” The plan envisions relocating large numbers of Gaza’s population to other countries — a move human rights advocates argue would violate international law and amount to forced displacement.
“We will take charge of Gaza’s security and help facilitate voluntary emigration,” Netanyahu stated, citing the need for long-term peace and regional stability.
Palestinian leaders and international bodies have rejected the proposal outright, calling it a modern form of ethnic cleansing.
Hostage Standoff and Negotiation Stalemate
Israel’s government has stated that military operations will continue until all hostages held by Hamas — currently 59 people, 24 believed alive — are released. In return, Hamas has demanded the implementation of the January ceasefire agreement, including a permanent ceasefire and Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza.
So far, those talks remain stalled, with no breakthrough despite international mediation.
War’s Ongoing Human Toll
- The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
- Since then, Israel’s military response has reportedly killed over 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
- The war has displaced over 90% of Gaza’s population, many of whom have been uprooted multiple times.
- Gaza’s infrastructure lies in ruins, with no timeline for rebuilding.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, and another ground offensive looms, global pressure is building for renewed diplomacy — but on the ground in Gaza, uncertainty and suffering continue to define daily life.
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