Hamas says Israeli-British hostage died as Israel Defense Forces order new evacuation

Israel ordered new evacuations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Saturday, forcing tens of thousands of people to leave as it prepared to expand its military operation deeper into what is considered Gaza’s last refuge.

As pro-Palestinian protests continued against the war, Israel’s military also said it was moving into a devastated area in northern Gaza, where it said the militant group Hamas had regrouped after seven months of fighting.

Israel has now evacuated the eastern third of Rafah, and the top military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said dozens of militants had been killed there as “targeted operations continued”.

The United Nations has warned that the planned large-scale invasion of Rafah would further undermine humanitarian operations and cause an increase in civilian deaths.

Louise Wateridge, communications officer for the Rafah-based United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), told The Independent that food shortages were “sending panic” across the region.

“People are aware that the border posts are not working, they are aware that help is not arriving, which in itself will cause panic in the community, because they are already fighting for survival every day”, she said.

Report from INDEPENDENT.