Netanyahu says second phase of war in Gaza launched by

Israel presents plan to evacuate civilians, defends offensive in Rafah | World

1 of 2 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. — Photo: Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. — Photo: Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP

The Israeli army presented this Monday (26) a plan to “evacuate” the civilian population in conflict areas in the Gaza Strip, said the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The announcement comes ahead of an expected Israeli offensive on Rafah, an overpopulated city in the southern Palestinian territory.

According to the UN, around 1.4 million civilians live in the region that Netanyahu described as the “last stronghold” of the Islamic movement Hamas.

On Saturday (24), the Israeli Prime Minister had already announced that he would convene his cabinet “at the beginning of the week” to “approve the operational plans in Rafah, including the evacuation of the civilian population.”

This Sunday, in an interview with the North American television network CBS, he explained that “there is room” for civilians “to go north of Rafah to areas where we have already stopped the fighting.”

2 of 2 Infographic shows borders between Gaza Strip, Rafah, Israel and Egypt. — Photo: Editoria de arte/g1 Infographic shows borders between the Gaza Strip, Rafah, Israel and Egypt. — Photo: Editoria de arte/g1

Israel's promise of a ground offensive in Rafah came despite international pressure and ongoing negotiations for a new ceasefire in the war against Hamas.

A new round of ceasefire negotiations is taking place in Doha, Qatar, with the participation of authorities from Egypt, Qatar, the United States and Israel, as well as representatives of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, an Egyptian television channel reported.

However, the possible offensive against Rafah on the border with Egypt will only be “postponed” if there is a ceasefire agreement, Netanyahu told CBS.

“This has to be done because overall victory is our goal and is within our reach,” he added.

The situation in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate. According to the United Nations, 2.2 million people the vast majority of the population are affected by “extreme mass hunger”.