IDF says civilians in Rafah to be directed to ‘humanitarian islands,’ ahead of ground op

The IDF says it plans to direct a significant portion of the 1.4 million displaced Palestinians trapped in Rafah toward “humanitarian islands” in the center of the territory, ahead of a planned ground operation in the southernmost Gazan city.

The fate of those in Rafah has been a major area of concern for Israel’s allies. Humanitarian groups have warned that a Rafah offensive would be a catastrophe. Israel has said it is needed if the country is to achieve its goal of eliminating Hamas.

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says moving those in Rafah to the designated areas, which he says will be carried out in coordination with international actors, is a key part of the military’s preparations for its anticipated invasion of Rafah, where Hamas maintains four battalions, Israel says, that it wants to destroy.

Hagari says those islands will provide temporary housing, food, water, and other necessities to evacuated Palestinians. He does not say when Rafah’s evacuation will occur, nor when the Rafah offensive will begin, saying that Israel wants the timing to be right operationally and to be coordinated with neighboring Egypt, which has said it does not want an influx of displaced Palestinians crossing its border.