Israeli military orders evacuation of most of Gaza’s southern city of Rafah

The Israeli military today issued sweeping evacuation orders covering most of Rafah, indicating it could soon launch another major ground operation in the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip.

The military has ordered Palestinians to head to Muwasi, a sprawl of squalid tent camps along the coast. The orders came during Eid al-Fitr, a normally festive Muslim



holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Meanwhile, local media reported that at least 64 people, including children, have been killed in Gaza on the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr. At least 35 people were killed in the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis in the early hours yesterday.