Israel army pounds Rafah as it orders some residents out
The Israeli military heavily bombed Rafah early on Monday before ordering some residents to leave parts of the border town ahead of a planned ground assault.
At least 22 Palestinians, including eight children, were killed in air strikes that hit 11 homes across Rafah, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
The Israeli military also dropped flyers ordering residents to leave the eastern areas of the city near the fence that separates the Gaza Strip and Israel.
It said the military was “about to operate with force against the terror organisations in the area”.
It also warned residents from approaching the fence with Israel and the border with Egypt.
On Sunday, Hamas killed four Israeli soldiers and seriously wounded others after launching rockets at a military site in Israel east of Rafah.
The escalation comes as mediators push for a ceasefire and a prisoner swap deal.
A Hamas delegation left Cairo on Sunday for further consultations with the group’s leadership in Doha after two days of negotiations with Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
CIA director William Burns, who was also in Cairo over the weekend, flew to Qatar on Sunday night to continue pushing for a deal.
He is expected to fly to Israel on Tuesday.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant claimed in a phone call with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin that Israel made “many efforts” to reach an agreement, his office said on Monday.
He added that Hamas’ “refusal” has left Israel with “no choice” but to operate in Rafah.
Meanwhile, Hamas accuses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of obstructing a deal.
The Palestinian group has insisted any potential deal must include a permanent end to the war while Israel is seeking only a temporary pause.
Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior member of Hamas, told Reuters the Israeli ejection orders from Rafah were a “dangerous escalation that will have consequences”.
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, warned an Israeli offensive in Rafah would have “devastating” consequences and lead to more civilian suffering and deaths.
In a post on X, the agency announced it would not evacuate the city, insisting it "will maintain a presence in Rafah as long as possible" and will continue "providing lifesaving aid to people”.
Unrwa previously complied with Israeli orders to leave northern Gaza, a decision that was criticised by Palestinians who accused it of abandoning people who rely on its services.
Petra De Sutter, deputy prime minister of Belgium, said on X the ejection orders and the announced invasion "will lead to massacre".
She added that Belgium was working on further sanctions against Israel.
Humanitarian consequences
Israeli leaders have threatened an offensive in Rafah for months despite widespread opposition by world leaders and humanitarian organisations.
The US, a staunch ally of Israel, has repeatedly said it does not support a massive Israeli assault in Rafah that does not take into account the safety of civilians.
Rafah had become overcrowded with civilians who fled Israeli bombardment in other parts of the Gaza Strip in recent months.
There are an estimated 1.4 million people taking shelter in makeshift tents in the small town.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said Israel has not yet presented a plan to protect civilians in Rafah, saying a major military operation there would cause damage “beyond what's acceptable”.
Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office, also on Friday said an Israeli offensive there “could be a slaughter of civilians”.
He warned the humanitarian operation in the entire coastal enclave will suffer an “incredible blow” because they are run primarily out of Rafah, which has the only Palestinian land crossing not directly controlled by Israel.
The seven-month Israeli assault on Gaza has already devastated the Palestinian enclave and caused a humanitarian crisis.
The Israeli military has killed at least 34,600 Palestinians, the majority of them children and women, while a siege on the coastal enclave has left it on the brink of famine.