Israel's Strong Response Hamas Orders Citizens To Evacuate From Rafah: Hazardous Escalation That Has Consequences

LAY FOR WHO/PHOTO OF ILLUSTRATION via news.un.org

JAKARTA - Hamas Sami Abu Zuhuri officials criticized Israel's military warning that residents in Rafah, Gaza, should immediately evacuate or be evacuated following an invasion plan in the near future.

"This is a dangerous escalation that will have consequences. The US government must take responsibility for this terrorism," he said.

Meanwhile, residents in eastern Rafah were reportedly frightened and panicked after the Israeli military issued an evacuation order.

Reported by CNN, Monday, May 6, the Red Cross Team drove through the eastern Rafah and asked residents to evacuate at night, the officer said.

One family told CNN they were preparing to leave the eastern Rafah to the tent area in the western Rafah. This is the fourth time they have moved after they previously moved from central Gaza to Khan Yunis, then Rafah.

A home owner claimed to have received a call from the Israeli military telling them to leave.

The family told CNN they experienced a series of airstrikes overnight. It is estimated that 100,000 people will flee the eastern Rafah, the military said at a press conference. Residents in Rafah will receive text messages, phone calls, media broadcasts in Arabic, as well as brochures that tell them to "refuge immediately".

Israel's previous evacuation order in Gaza ahead of military operations came under fire from the United Nations and humanitarian groups, who repeatedly said there was no safe place in the region to flee.