Israel urges Palestinians to quit Rafah

By Nathan Morley

The Israeli military is urging people in the southern Gaza city of Rafah to move towards an expanded humanitarian zone ahead of an expected offensive on the city.

Overnight, the Israeli military dropped leaflets in the eastern area of Rafah calling on civilians to leave ahead of a planned operation in the city.

The IDF – Israeli Defence Force - say that evacuees will be directed to tent cities in nearby Khan Younis and al-Mawasi, where food and water would be available.

Israel’s defense minister said military action against Hamas in Rafah was needed, but there is widespread international concern over the fate of a million civilians sheltering there.

Meanwhile, Israeli strikes in Rafah reportedly killed at least 12 people overnight, while three Israeli soldiers were killed in a Hamas rocket attack near the Kerem Shalom crossing.

All of this comes after weekend talks aimed at securing a ceasefire deal in Gaza and the release of hostages – the talks, though, failed to yield results.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah says its launched dozens rockets at an Israeli base in the occupied Golan Heights. The Iran-back militant group it was in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon.