The Israeli army announced on Monday that approximately 100,000 individuals were being evacuated from eastern Rafah in anticipation of an impending ground assault in the southern Gaza city. A military spokesperson informed journalists about the evacuation figure when queried about the ongoing operation.

Rafah, currently hosting around 1.2 million people, has become a shelter for many who fled from other parts of Gaza during the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas Palestinian militants, as reported by the World Health Organization.

The evacuation initiative aligns with the military's strategy to dismantle terrorist groups, particularly after recent violent incidents reaffirming their presence and operational capabilities in Rafah. The spokesperson emphasized that the evacuation aims to safeguard civilians from potential harm.

On the preceding Sunday, the army disclosed that three Israeli soldiers lost their lives and a dozen sustained injuries due to a rocket barrage directed at the Kerem Shalom border crossing between Israel and Gaza. According to the military, the rockets originated from an area near Rafah, where the soldiers were stationed to guard heavy machinery, tanks, and bulldozers.

Rain accompanied the evacuation efforts on Monday, with the army deploying leaflets via airdrops to inform residents about the evacuation procedures, as observed by an AFP correspondent

The Israeli army announced on Monday that approximately 100,000 individuals were being evacuated from eastern Rafah in anticipation of an impending ground assault in the southern Gaza city. A military spokesperson informed journalists about the evacuation figure when queried about the ongoing operation.

Rafah, currently hosting around 1.2 million people, has become a shelter for many who fled from other parts of Gaza during the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas Palestinian militants, as reported by the World Health Organization.

The evacuation initiative aligns with the military's strategy to dismantle terrorist groups, particularly after recent violent incidents reaffirming their presence and operational capabilities in Rafah. The spokesperson emphasized that the evacuation aims to safeguard civilians from potential harm.

On the preceding Sunday, the army disclosed that three Israeli soldiers lost their lives and a dozen sustained injuries due to a rocket barrage directed at the Kerem Shalom border crossing between Israel and Gaza. According to the military, the rockets originated from an area near Rafah, where the soldiers were stationed to guard heavy machinery, tanks, and bulldozers.

Rain accompanied the evacuation efforts on Monday, with the army deploying leaflets via airdrops to inform residents about the evacuation procedures, as observed by an AFP correspondent