Mass evacuation of 100,000 Palestinians gets underway in Rafah amid 'massacre' fears as Israel prepares for 'imminent' offensive in city

Israel has ordered an estimated 100,000 Palestinians to leave the eastern part of Rafah, the last-standing city in the Gaza Strip, amid fears that an upcoming IDF offensive against the city could end in a massacre of civilians. 

The IDF ordered Gazan civilians to leave part of Rafah and go to Muwasi, an Israeli-declared humanitarian area near the coast, in preparation for the offensive this morning, and thousands were seen leaving in droves. 

Civilians were seen carrying what they could on small vans and even donkeys, as they made their way to tent camps set up by the IDF to accommodate the mass of people leaving Rafah, with the army claiming it had expanded assistance into the area, including field hospitals, tents, food and water,   

More than half of Gaza's population called Rafah home since the retaliatory attack against the enclave began seven months after Hamas' brutal incursion into Israel. 

Israel says it's aim with the offensive against Rafah was to weed out any remaining Hamas fighters. Israel maintains that the broader goal of the last seven months has been to eliminate Hamas. 

But the terror group said it would put up a fight against the IDF's assault, claiming in a statement: 'We confirm that any military offensive in Rafah will not be a picnic to the fascist occupation army. Our brave resistance on top of them, the Qassam Brigades, is fully prepared to defend our people and defeat this enemy.'

Palestinians, including women and children living in east part of Rafah, migrate to the west part of the country

People flee the eastern parts of Rafah after the Israeli military began evacuating Palestinian civilians ahead of a threatened assault

Smoke rises from different points after Israeli attack on Rafah

Much of the world, and especially its allies, have condemned Israel's decision to plough ahead with the planned offensive. 

The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell said: 'Israel's evacuation orders to civilians in Rafah portend the worst: more war and famine. It is unacceptable. Israel must renounce to a ground offensive. 

'The EU, with the International Community, can and must act to prevent such scenario.' 

A spokesperson for the White House's National Security Council said: 'We can't speak for IDF (Israeli military) operations. We have made our views clear on a major ground invasion of Rafah to the Israeli government, and the President will speak with the Prime Minister today. 

'We continue to believe that a hostage deal is the best way to preserve the lives of the hostages, and avoid an invasion of Rafah, where more than a million people are sheltering. Those talks are ongoing now.'  

The Palestinian presidency called on Washington to stop Israel from conducting a large-scale invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza to prevent a 'massacre'.

A picture taken on May 6, 2024 shows smoke billowing following bombardement east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

Much of the world, and especially its allies, have condemned Israel's decision to plough ahead with the planned offensive

The Israel-Hamas war has driven around 80% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million from their homes and caused vast destruction in several towns and cities

'We call on the American administration to intervene immediately to prevent this massacre... (and) we warn of its dangerous repercussions,' the presidency said in a statement. 

Egypt, one of the few countries directly involved in the negotiation between Israel and Hamas, warned the military operation carries 'grave humanitarian risks'.

The country's foreign ministry also called on Israel to exercise the utmost levels of self-restraint.  

The Israel-Hamas war has driven around 80% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million from their homes and caused vast destruction in several towns and cities. The death toll in Gaza has soared to more than 34,500 people, according to local health officials.

The war began on October 7 when Hamas attacked southern Israel, abducting about 250 people and killing around 1,200, mostly civilians. Israel says militants still hold around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.