Netanyahu requested from the Israeli army a plan for the evacuation of over a million civilians from Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare for the evacuation of over a million civilians from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip ahead of an anticipated attack on the area.

The statement comes following remarks from the United States stating that Israel has not conducted the necessary pre-operational planning to ensure that civilians are protected from harm and that the failure to do so risks “catastrophe“.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has instructed the IDF and the defense establishment to present plans to the government for the evacuation of Palestinian civilian population from the southern Gaza Strip and for the dissolution of Hamas battalions in the Rafah area.

“It is impossible to achieve the war aim of eliminating Hamas and leaving four Hamas battalions in Rafah. On the other hand, it is clear that a mass operation in Rafah requires the evacuation of the civilian population from combat zones,“ Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

It is estimated that more than 1.3 million Palestinians are in the Rafah area.