The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday ordered residents of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip to evacuate to nearby “safe” areas as a long-delayed Israeli attack on Hamas’ last stronghold appears imminent. I called on them to do so.
The Israeli Defense Forces’ deployment was announced on Saturday after Hamas fired a rocket at close range at the Kerem Shalom intersection, where humanitarian aid passes from Israel to Gaza, killing four soldiers and injuring several others. It was after that.
The United States has publicly told Israel not to attack Rafah since February. Israel has insisted it will do so regardless of international pressure or hostage negotiations to achieve its goal of annihilating Hamas.
The Israeli Defense Forces are distributing leaflets in Rafah with maps showing where residents should evacuate during the fighting.
Rafah, Gaza – May 6: Israeli military warns Palestinians to evacuate Rafah with pamphlets ahead of military ground offensive, heading west in Rafah, Gaza, May 6, 2024 (Photo by: Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images)
IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichai Adlai posted examples of these leaflets on social media on Sunday.
#James في الدقائق الأخيرة ألقى جيش الدفاع فوق الأحياء الرفح مناشير يدعو فيها ال سكان فيPlease log in. Please login. Please login. المناشير والرسائل النصية والاتصالات الهاتفية والمواد ية بالعربية pic.twitter.com/RngS7LshIM
— Avichay Adraee (@AvichayAdraee) May 6, 2024
The IDF elaborates in a statement (emphasis in original):
In recent hours, leaflets have been dropped asking residents of eastern Rafah to temporarily evacuate to the expanded humanitarian zone.
Requests for temporary relocation to humanitarian areas are communicated through leaflets, SMS messages, telephone calls, and media broadcasts. Arabic.
…
I have attached a revised version of the English translation of the flyer.
Red flyer:
Al Shuqa, Al Salam, Al Janina, Taba Zarah, Al Yarmouk areas, and blocks 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28, 270.
The IDF will continue to operate against terrorist organizations in your area.
Anyone found near a terrorist organization puts themselves and their families at risk.
For your safety, the IDF urges you to immediately evacuate to the Extended Humanitarian Area in the Al Mawashi region.
We warn that Gaza City remains a dangerous war zone. Avoid returning north of Wadi Gaza.
Warn you to stay away from the east and south safety fences.
Israel Defense Forces.
Blue flyer:
IDF announces expansion of Al Mawashi humanitarian area.
From now on, the area will extend from Deir Al Bala in the north to Blocks 2373, 2360, 2371 in the south and east, and the center of Khan Younis, as shown in the attached map.
Humanitarian assistance will continue to scale up in the region.
The IDF will continue to fight terrorist organizations that use you as human shields.
therefore:
Gaza City is a dangerous war zone. Avoid crossing Wadi Gaza to the north.
Access to the eastern and southern protective fences is prohibited.
In a separate statement, the IDF explained:
Humanitarian aid to Gaza is rapidly increasing. The IDF expanded the Almawasi humanitarian zone to accommodate the increased levels of aid flowing into Gaza. This expanded humanitarian relief area includes a field hospital, tents, and increased food, water, medicine, and additional supplies.
Subject to government approval, civilians in designated areas will be moved to humanitarian relief areas in a phased manner, subject to continuous assessment of the situation.
Calls to temporarily move to humanitarian areas will be communicated through posters, SMS messages, telephone calls and Arabic media broadcasts.
The Israel Defense Forces will continue to pursue Hamas throughout Gaza until all held hostages return home.
The apparent mobilization of IDF forces to launch Operation Rafah may be a clever bluff to increase pressure on Hamas to accept the hostage deal. Hamas has held firm to Israel’s commitment that such an agreement would end the war.
Negotiations are said to be at an impasse on this point. US Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns shuttled between Doha, Qatar, and Jerusalem, Israel on Sunday and Monday in a last-ditch effort to save a potential deal.
Rafah, along the Egyptian border, is strategically important because Hamas controls the underground smuggling routes through which it obtains weapons and its leaders could flee if Israel relents.
Although a majority of Israelis support an attack on Rafah, Israelis are divided on whether the operation there should come before the hostage deal. The Kerem Shalom attack by Hamas may have clinched the decision.
The IDF’s move to attack came on the country’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, hours after Prime Minister Netanyahu warned: So the first lesson of the Holocaust is: If we don’t protect ourselves, no one will protect us. And if we need to be isolated, we will be isolated. ”
The message was interpreted by some observers as a message to US President Joe Biden about Israel’s intentions in Rafah.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday Sunday nights from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET (4:00 PM to 7:00 PM PT) on Sirius XM Patriot. He is the author of a recently published e-book.The Zionist conspiracy (and how to join it)‘ is now available on Audible. He is also the author of an e-book. Neither Free nor Fair: The 2020 US Presidential Election. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpolak.
