This morning, the Israeli occupation army began forcing the people of the city of Rafah to move towards Khan Yunis and Al-Mawasi, in preparation for the expected military operation.

According to Israeli occupation army radio, the army began evacuating Palestinian civilians from the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip before launching an attack.

The radio reported that Defense Minister Yoav Galant made a phone call with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken last night to inform him of the start of the evacuation of citizens from Rafah.

The Ynet website, affiliated with the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, quoted sources in the occupation army as saying that the evacuation operations will be limited and will include 100,000 Gazans.

The website added: “The partial evacuation process is with the approval of the political level. It is a temporary process and will progress gradually according to ongoing assessments of the situation.”

The Israeli occupation army spokesman sent an urgent appeal to all residents and displaced people in the Al-Shoka municipality area and in the neighborhoods - Al-Salam, Al-Jeneina, Tabet Zaraa and Al-Byouk in the Rafah area in blocks: 10-16, 28, 270.

The army spokesman said in a statement, “The IDF will work with extreme force against terrorist organizations in the areas where you reside, as it has done so far. Anyone who is near terrorist organizations puts his life and the life of his family at risk.”

He added: “For your safety, the IDF calls on you to evacuate immediately to the expanded humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi.

He continued: “We warn you that Gaza City is still a dangerous combat zone. Refrain from returning north from Wadi Gaza. We warn you not to approach the eastern and southern security fence.

According to the statement: “The IDF expands the humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi and calls on the Palestinian civilian population to temporarily evacuate from the eastern neighborhoods of the Rafah area to the expanded humanitarian zone.

The statement stated, “The IDF is expanding the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, which includes field hospitals, tents, and large quantities of food, water, medicine, and other supplies. The IDF, in cooperation with some international organizations and other countries, is also allowing the expansion of the humanitarian aid that is brought into the Strip.”

He added: “Based on the approval of the political level, the IDF calls on the civilian population under the control of Hamas to temporarily evacuate from the eastern neighborhoods of the Rafah area to the expanded humanitarian zone. This process will move forward gradually based on the ongoing situation assessment that will take place throughout.”

He continued: “The IDF calls on Gazans in the eastern neighborhoods of Rafah to move to the expanded humanitarian areas, where leaflets will be distributed, SMS messages and phone calls will be sent, as well as information will be broadcast through the Arab media.

The statement concluded, “The IDF will continue to work to achieve the goals of the war, including dismantling Hamas and returning all the kidnapped people.”