Israel calls on residents of Rafah to evacuate “immediately”

CAIRO – 6 May 2024:  The Israeli army called on residents east of Rafah Palestinian city in Gaza Strip to evacuate the area immediately and go to Al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis, as it is considered a “safe” area.

Israeli announced on Monday that the evacuation of civilians from the Palestinian Rafah is part of a limited-scale operation.

It was added that the evacuation process from east Rafah, includes about 100,000 people.

Israel also warned the residents in its statement that Gaza remains a 'dangerous combat zone', and that they must Refrain from returning to it.

A high-level source affirmed that Rafah crossing is “operating normally” and the movement of aid entry is continuing.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), said however, that they will not evacuate their sites in Gaza in case of an Israeli Rafah invasion, according to al Qahera News channel.

UNRWA said, Monday that an Israeli attack on Palestine’s Rafah means more suffering and deaths among civilians, and the consequences would be devastating for 1.4 million people.

UNRWA added that it will maintain its presence in Gaza for as long as possible and will continue to provide life-saving aid to citizens.

These developments come amidst ongoing of a new round of negotiations hosted in Cairo between the Hamas movement and Israel regarding reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and increasing the humanitarian aid that should enter the besieged enclave.

According to Al Qahera News, the Egyptian proposal entails the release of 20-40 captives currently held by Hamas in Gaza, in exchange for Palestinian security prisoners serving lengthy sentences or who are elderly.

The Hamas delegation, tasked with negotiating a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, left for Doha for consultations and will return on Tuesday to complete the negotiations regarding a ceasefire deal with Israel in Gaza, a source told Al Qahera News on Sunday.

The movement stated on Sunday that the Cairo talks ended and the delegation will return to Doha for consultation with the leaders. It added that the Hamas delegation delivered the movement's response to the mediators in Egypt and Qatar, noting that in-depth and serious discussions took place with them.

The movement affirmed its positive and responsible approach, and “its keenness and determination to reach an agreement that meets the national demands of the Palestinians, ends the aggression completely, achieves [Israeli] withdrawal from the entire Gaza Strip, returns the [Palestinians who] displaced, intensifies relief, begins reconstruction, and completes the prisoner swap deal.”

The Hamas delegation arrived in Egypt on May 4 and made significant progress in negotiations; a high-level source told Al Qahera News.