Israel wants Rafah civilians to go to Gaza’s center ahead of southern offensive

Israel plans to tell 1.4 million Palestinians displaced in the southern city of Rafah to seek shelter in central Gaza ahead of a planned Israeli offensive into the south. Israel’s chief military spokesman said Wednesday that civilians would be directed toward “humanitarian islands” with temporary housing, food, water and other necessities. He did not say when the evacuation would occur, nor when the Rafah offensive might begin. Humanitarian groups fear an offensive into an area densely crowded with so many displaced people would be a catastrophe. Rafah is also Gaza’s main entry point for desperately needed aid. Israel says Hamas maintains four battalions in Rafah that it wants to destroy.