Agencies JERUSALEM

The Israeli military on Sunday urged residents of the southern Gaza city of Rafah to evacuate as forces launched an offensive against militants in the area. In a statement on X, military spokesman Avichay Adraee said the army "launched an offensive to strike the terrorist organisations" in Rafah's Tal al-Sultan district. Adraee called on Palestinians there to leave the "dangerous combat zone" and move further north. Leaflets bearing the same message were dropped over Tal al-Sultan by drone, AFP correspondents said.

Israel, vowing to destroy Palestinian militant group Hamas, on Tuesday resumed intense bombardment of Gaza and redeployed ground troops, shattering a truce that had largely held since January 19. In early March, it  blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into war-ravaged Gaza and cut electricity supply, in a bid to force Hamas to accept the Israeli terms for an extension of the ceasefire and release the remaining 58 hostages, half of them believed to be dead,   held by Palestinian militants since the October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war.

Israel Katz’s warning

Earlier, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Hamas that Israel would maintain a permanent presence in parts of Gaza unless the hostages in Gaza were  released, CNN reported. He said he had  instructed the Israeli military "to seize additional areas in Gaza, while evacuating the population, and to expand the security zones around Gaza in order to protect Israeli communities and IDF soldiers through permanent maintenance of the territory by Israel".

Voluntary Transition

Meanwhile, Israel's Political-Security Cabinet approved Katz's proposal to establish a "voluntary transition administration" for Gaza residents who express an interest in emigrating to other countries, subject to the provisions of Israeli and international law, and in accordance with the proposal of US President Donald Trump.

This administration will work, among other things, to prepare for and enable safe and controlled passage of Gaza residents for their voluntary departure to third countries, including coordinating to enable passage by land, sea, and air to the destination countries.