Israel orders evacuation of Rafah residents as military operation intensifies

The Israeli military has issued an evacuation order for Palestinians in most of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, warning of renewed fighting in the area as part of its ongoing operation.

Avichay Adraee, the military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, announced on March 31 that Israel would "return to fight with great force" in an effort to eliminate the capabilities of terrorist organizations in the region. He urged residents to relocate to the Al-Mawasi safe zone for their safety, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

#عاجل ‼️ إلى جميع سكان قطاع غزة المتواجدين في مناطق رفح، بلديات النصر والشوكة والمناطق الاقليمية الشرقية والغربية وأحياء السلام، المنارة وقيزان النجار

⭕️يعود جيش الدفاع الإسرائيلي للقتال بقوة شديدة للقضاء على قدرات المنظمات الإرهابية في هذه المناطق.

⭕️من أجل سلامتكم عليكم… pic.twitter.com/Ps1JvDoJRY

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) March 31, 2025

The order comes as Israel continues its military operation in the Gaza Strip, which was resumed on March 18 after a two-month ceasefire. Since the resumption of airstrikes and ground operations, the Hamas-run Health Ministry reports that hundreds of Palestinians have been killed. Additionally, the United Nations agency for humanitarian emergencies reported that nearly 150,000 Gaza residents have been displaced by the fighting in recent weeks.

On March 29, the Israeli military announced an expansion of its ground operations in Rafah, targeting Hamas infrastructure and attempting to widen the buffer zone along the Gaza border. The military claims these efforts are crucial for limiting the capabilities of Hamas and securing the borders.

As the conflict continues to escalate, both international figures and Israeli activists are calling for a ceasefire and a potential hostage exchange deal. In an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes", Keith Siegel, an American-Israeli hostage who was recently freed, stressed the urgency of negotiations. "It's urgent, and every day that this goes on is just more and more suffering and more and more possible death and psychological devastation" for the remaining Israeli hostages, Siegel said, underscoring the need for swift action to reach a deal.

By Vafa Guliyeva