The Israeli Army ordered this Saturday the evacuation of civilians from more areas of eastern Rafah (a city from which 150,000 Palestinians have already left), six days after starting the military operation in that city in southern Gaza, as well as in several points in the north of the enclave, where it alleges that Hamas is rebuilding its capabilities.

The evacuation order in Rafah affects the Rafah and Shabura camps, as well as the Adari and Geneina neighborhoods, which are has asked them to go to the “humanitarian area” of Al Mawasia coastal area already saturated with displaced people in makeshift tents, without running water or sanitation.

“Everywhere you look, this morning in western Rafah, families are packing their bags. The streets are significantly emptier,” said Louise Wateridge, Gaza spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency UNRWA, which estimates that Some 150,000 people have already fled the city, not only in the east where evacuation has been ordered since the new orders affect more central neighborhoods. Specifically, 33,854 Palestinians left Rafah this Friday.

In the north, Israel has ordered the departure of residents and displaced people from several neighborhoods and towns between Jabalia and Beit Lahia, which it designated as a “dangerous combat zone” and asked them to move west of Gaza City. “The Israel Defense Forces will work with great force against terrorist organizations in the region where they are and, therefore, all those who are in those areas expose themselves and their families to danger,” said the statement from the Israeli Army, distributed in leaflets to Gazan residents, by telephone messages, and published in the X account of its Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee.

The military statement also warns that it is prohibited to approach the security fence that surrounds the enclave, which implies “putting your life in danger”, since the soldiers have orders to shoot anyone who approaches. Palestinian medical sources reported air and artillery bombardments in both Rafah, in the south; as in the north, specifically in Beit Lahia and the Zeitun neighborhood, in Gaza City, where Israel has resumed military operations in the face of the return of Hamas.

Israel announced on Tuesday control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, on the border with Egypt, suspending humanitarian operations, which has increased international concern about the deepening of the crisis. The operation was launched after reject a ceasefire proposal previously accepted by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

During the day on Wednesday, the president of the United States, Joe Biden stated for the first time that he will stop sending weapons to Israel in case it begins a large-scale incursion into Rafah. The Biden Administration has already confirmed that it has halted the shipment of a package of ammunition due to the situation in Gaza.

Leaks to the Hebrew press reveal that the security cabinet, which brings together Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, several ministers and the defense establishment, decided on Thursday night to approve the expansion of the military offensive in Rafah, but in a “measured” way to do not cross the red lines of the US, which opposes a large-scale invasion.