Israel-Gaza – live: IDF orders Palestinians to evacuate parts of Rafah after Netanyahu rejects ceasefire deal

People have been asked to move to what Israel described as the “humanitarian zone” at Al-Mawasi as the army prepared for a “limited scope operation”, without confirming when the Rafah invasion would begin.

“In accordance with the approval of the political echelon, the IDF is calling on the population, which is under the control of Hamas, to temporarily evacuate from the eastern neighbourhoods of Rafah to the expanded humanitarian space,” a statement from the IDF said on Monday.

It said that it was contacting Palestinians through “announcements, text messages, phone calls and media broadcasts in Arabic”.

Statement from Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) following forced, unlawful evacuation orders in Rafah: “Israel’s military offensive in Rafah could lead to the deadliest phase of this conflict, inflicting horrific suffering on approximately 1.4 million displaced civilians in the area.

“The relocation orders issued by Israel today to thousands of Gazans, directing them to move to Al-Mawasi, are beyond alarming. The area is already overstretched and devoid of vital services. It lacks the capacity to house the number of people currently seeking refuge in Rafah, with no assurances of safety, proper accommodation or return once hostilities end for those forced to relocate.

“The absence of these fundamental guarantees of safety and return, as required by international humanitarian law, qualifies Israel’s relocation directives as forcible transfer, amounting to a serious violation of international law. Any Israeli military operation in Rafah – which has become the largest cluster of displacement camps in the world – will cause potential mass atrocities.

“Rafah had become the last refuge for hundreds of thousands of families, deprived of any semblance of safety. With nowhere else to go, they are facing the threat of prolonged displacement and death. My NRC colleagues, and many other aid organisations, are working tirelessly in crammed shelters, but we find ourselves unable to sustain these efforts. The aid system is bound to collapse, leaving those fleeing the advancing Israeli forces vulnerable to hunger and suffering.

“Israel’s allies have consistently failed to restrain indiscriminate attacks in Gaza for months. Now, once more, they are failing to prevent Israel from moving forward with a reckless military offensive in densely populated Rafah. By supporting a war of debilitation and supplying arms that fuel the conflict, Israel’s allies must now bear responsibility for their failure to ensure respect for the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.

“We urgently call on Hamas and Israel to agree to a deal that can end the bloodshed and avert further hostilities. History’s verdict will be harsh on the men who continued a war that kills countless women and children. The parties must do more to protect civilians and ensure the safe delivery of aid during this offensive. Both Israel and Palestinian non-state armed groups must agree to an immediate and lasting ceasefire as the only way to save lives, release hostages, and ensure sufficient aid reaches people across Gaza.”

Tamara Al-Rifae, a spokesperson for UNRWA, told the Independent both the Rafah and Kerem Shalom land crossings into Gaza, which are vital lifelines for humanitarian aid, are currently closed.

Civilians in Rafah said the price of some food goods like flour and sugar doubled overnight because of this, and families were desperately trying to get supplies in case.

Pictures show scenes in Rafah this morning after Israel ordered citizens in the east to evacuate.

Egypt’s state-affiliated Al Qahera news TV on Monday quoted an unnamed “high-level” source as saying that Hamas’s attack on Gaza‘s Kerem Shalom crossing had caused an impasse in ceasefire talks.

The Egyptian negotiators are intensifying talks to contain the current escalation between Israel and Hamas, the source said according to the channel.

UN officials said an Israeli military operation into Rafah, which is sheltering up to 1.4 million people, most of them already displaced and half of them children, could “lead to a bloodbath.”

Tamara al-Rifae, from the UN’s Palestinian Refugee Agency UNRWA, told The Independent the potential impact from the assault would be “catastrophic”.

“No amount of emergency planning can assuage the immense anxiety than most people in Rafah feel today, as news of an imminent incursion abound,” she said, adding that UNRWA has pledged to stay put in the border town and continue humanitarian operations.

“The potential impact of such a military operation is catastrophic, given the level, scope and scale of the destruction that Gazans have already witnessed across the Strip for the last 7 months,” she continued.

“An immediate humanitarian ceasefire is the only way to prevent more death and destruction.”

After Israel called on more than 100,000 Palestinians to evacuate eastern Rafah, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhuri said: “This is a dangerous escalation that will have consequences.

“The US administration, alongside the occupation, bears responsibility for this terrorism.”

Gaza resident Abu Muhey, who is sheltering with his family north of Rafah, said: “They (the Israeli military) are calling people in the eastern area of Rafah, some also in the west near the Rafah crossing, ordering them to leave … We don’t know what to do, but I will take my family to Deir Al-Balah though I am not in the targeted area, maybe not yet.”

The United Nations relief teams in Gaza say they will not evacuate Rafah in a defiant social media post.

They said in a post on X: “The UNRWA is not evacuating: the Agency will maintain a presence in Rafah as long as possible & will continue providing lifesaving aid to people.”

Israel’s army said Monday on the social platform X it would act with “extreme force” against militants and urged the population to evacuate immediately for their safety.

Israel published a map of the evacuation area, and that orders were being issued through leaflets dropped from the sky, text messages and radio broadcasts.

They claimed they had set up expanded humanitarian aid in Muwasi, including field hospitals, tents, food and water.