Despite a cease-fire proposal being on the table, the Israeli military has pushed forward with orders for an evacuation of some 100,000 Palestinians from eastern neighborhoods of Rafah, signaling an imminent assault on the southern Gaza city. The move has raised international concern and prompted widespread warnings of a potential humanitarian disaster.
As the Israeli cabinet decided to press on with the Rafah operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that while the cease-fire proposal accepted by Hamas “is far from meeting Israel’s core demands,” Israel would still send negotiators to Egypt to continue talks. The U.S., a key ally of Israel, has expressed strong opposition to an invasion of Rafah, with U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stating, “We cannot support an operation in Rafah as it is currently envisioned.”
President Joe Biden, reiterating American apprehension, spoke with Netanyahu and emphasized concerns about the impact of an invasion on the civilian population. Amidst the high-stakes diplomacy, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called upon both parties to “go the extra mile” to prevent further suffering. Guterres’ statement highlighted the dire conditions for the displaced in Rafah and the paramount importance of civilian protection under international law.
As Israeli military operations began with “targeted strikes” in eastern Rafah, the looming operation prompted global alarm, with aid agencies warning of more civilian casualties and a further surge in deaths. The Israeli campaign has already been devastating, with over 34,000 fatalities. Humanitarian operations, crucial to the survival of Palestinians across Gaza, face potential ruin should the offensive proceed.
The evacuation order, delivered through leaflets, text messages, and broadcasts, instructed residents to move to a humanitarian zone called Muwasi, provisioned with tents, food, water, and field hospitals. However, the readiness of this camp to receive the influx of displaced individuals remains unclear. The sprawling tent camps and shelters that are already home to around 450,000 displaced Palestinians are described as squalid and inadequate.
The call for evacuation has left the people of Rafah with harrowing decisions, many having already faced multiple displacements throughout the war. Israeli airstrikes in Rafah early Monday claimed at least 22 lives, including children and two infants, further exacerbating the fear and uncertainty among the population.
While Hamas announced its acceptance of the cease-fire, the Israeli cabinet vowed to continue the Rafah operation. Hard-line partners in Netanyahu’s coalition are demanding an attack on Rafah, placing the Prime Minister in a precarious position between political pressure and urgent pleas from the families of hostages for their safe return.
The U.S. and the U.N. have in the past weeks tried to discourage Israel from an incursion. Overnight, Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, told U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a phone call that “there was no choice left and this meant the start of the Israeli operation in Rafah.”
Relevant articles:
– Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Rafah in Gaza ahead of an expected assault, apnews.com, 05/06/2024
– Live updates: Hamas says it agreed to a cease-fire proposal; Israel strikes Rafah and says deal ‘far from’ meeting its demands, NBC News, 05/07/2024
– Israel’s army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Rafah, NPR, 05/06/2024
– World reacts to Israel’s Rafah evacuation order, Al Jazeera English, 05/06/2024
– Visualizing what an attack on Rafah means for civilians, The Washington Post, 05/06/2024