Israel Considers Evacuation Plan as Ground Invasion of Rafah Looms
As tensions continue to rise in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Israel is now considering an “evacuation plan” for civilians in certain parts of the Gaza Strip. The proposal was presented to the war cabinet by the military, and it comes as the Israeli army prepares for a long-threatened offensive on the southern city of Rafah, where over 1.4 million people are currently trapped.
The war cabinet recently discussed the plan for evacuating the population from the areas of fighting in the Gaza Strip, as well as the upcoming operational plan. However, the details of the evacuation plan remain unconfirmed, and it is unclear which specific areas will be affected. The brief statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not explicitly mention the connection between the evacuation plan and the intended ground invasion of Rafah.
“This is a dual action plan. One, for Israel’s ground invasion into Rafah, and two, an evacuation plan for the nearly 1.5 million Palestinians who are seeking refuge in Gaza’s southernmost city,” reported Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut from occupied East Jerusalem.
The reports of the evacuation plans came shortly after the chiefs of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad and internal security service Shin Bet returned from truce talks in Paris. They reportedly had an outline of a potential agreement with Hamas that would involve a pause in fighting for up to six weeks to facilitate an exchange of Palestinian prisoners and Israeli captives. The framework has been presented to Hamas, but the group has yet to publicly comment. Further negotiations will take place in Qatar in the coming days.
Netanyahu has made it clear that no deal has been agreed upon yet and that the ground invasion of Rafah could happen sooner if no agreement is reached. He believes that a ground invasion is necessary to achieve “total victory” over Hamas, regardless of any international criticism or condemnation.
Meanwhile, Israel’s ground invasion of southern Gaza is already underway in Khan Younis, and bombs continue to fall on Rafah and other areas in the besieged enclave. The situation is dire, with approximately 30,000 Palestinians killed since October 7. Netanyahu assured US broadcaster CBS that once the Rafah invasion begins, the “intense phase” of the fighting will be weeks away from completion. He emphasized that Israel is on the same page with the US regarding the need to evacuate civilians.
Netanyahu also addressed concerns about pushing Palestinians in Rafah into bordering Egypt. He stated that the reason for the population in Rafah is because they were cleared away from other combat zones. He assured that there is room for them to go north of Rafah, to places where fighting has already ceased. Satellite images and reports have indicated that Egypt has been building a fortified buffer zone that could potentially house tens of thousands of Palestinians who may be forced into its borders by an Israeli attack. However, Cairo has denied these claims and has warned that more than four decades of peace with Israel could be in jeopardy if the Rafah invasion takes place.
In addition to the evacuation plan, a separate plan for providing humanitarian assistance has been presented to the cabinet. This plan aims to prevent looting in the northern Strip and other areas that have been affected by the conflict. Aid convoys have faced difficulties reaching these areas due to Israeli forces targeting and killing Palestinian police who were trying to help aid convoys navigate through hungry and desperate crowds.
As tensions escalate and the possibility of a ground invasion looms, the situation in Gaza remains dire. The evacuation plan, if implemented, could provide some relief for the trapped civilians in Rafah. However, it is crucial for all parties involved to prioritize the safety and well-being of innocent civilians and work towards a peaceful resolution to this devastating conflict.