The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday warned residents of Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, and nearby towns to immediately evacuate their homes and move to the Al Mawasi camp in a designated humanitarian zone.
The IDF Arabic spokesman, Avichay Adraee, stated that the military “is returning to fighting with great force to eliminate the capabilities of terrorist organizations in these areas.”
Israeli news outlet Maariv reported that this move adds pressure on Hamas amid ongoing negotiations over a potential ceasefire and hostage exchange deal. According to Israeli media, Hamas has agreed to release five live hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire. However, Israel is demanding the release of 11 live hostages, along with the return of half of the bodies of deceased hostages.
On Monday, Israeli forces conducted air and ground strikes across Gaza, resulting in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians, including children, as reported by the Palestinian news agency WAFA. The strikes coincided with residents marking the second day of Eid al-Fitr.
The Israeli military resumed its offensive on March 18, effectively ending a ceasefire with Hamas that had been in place since January 19. Since then, more than 900 Palestinians have been killed and over 2,000 wounded.
The conflict, which began in October 2023, has led to the deaths of at least 50,277 Palestinians and over 114,095 injuries, according to Gaza health authorities.
