A long-anticipated military invasion in Gaza's southern city of Rafah is imminent as the Israeli Army warned over 100,000 residents to evacuate on Monday. The Israeli military dropped flyers by air that read, "Remaining in these areas puts your lives in danger." Additional warnings were given through text messages and radio broadcasts.

Specifically, residents of Rafah Camp, the Brazil Camp, and the neighborhoods Al-Shabura and Al-Zohour are being told to evacuate to a nearby Israel-declared humanitarian zone called Muwasi, according to Israeli Army Spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani.

The evacuation warning comes as cease-fire negotiations fell apart over the weekend, following Hamas launching rockets that killed four IDF soldiers on the border with Gaza near Israel’s main crossing on Sunday. Israel closed the Kerem Shalom border crossing to humanitarian trucks after it was struck by the rocket attack. 

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that the impending invasion of Rafah was part of the strategic military objective to defeat Hamas and would happen with or without a deal:

We will enter Rafah because we have no other choice. We will destroy the Hamas battalions there, we will complete all the objectives of the war, including the return of all our hostages.

More than half of Gaza's population, about 1.4 million Palestinians, are packed into the city of Rafah and its immediate surroundings, many in refugee camps, and the planned invasion has sparked international criticism and pushback, including from France and a top EU Diplomat. 

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) posted to social media that the humanitarian aid group would not be leaving. UNRWA wrote:

An Israeli offensive in Rafah would mean more civilian suffering and deaths. The consequences would be devastating for 1.4 million people,” wrote the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. UNRWA is not evacuating: the agency will maintain a presence in Rafah as long as possible and will continue providing lifesaving aid to people.

An Israeli offensive in #Rafah would mean more civilian suffering & deaths. The consequences would be devastating for 1.4 million people@UNRWA is not evacuating: the Agency will maintain a presence in Rafah as long as possible & will continue providing lifesaving aid to people pic.twitter.com/8anQ8Eq6Gv

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) May 6, 2024

However, UNRWA's warning of civilian casualties comes after the IDF completed a military action on a Hamas command post centered within an active UNRWA location in central Gaza, accusing the terrorist organization of using the humanitarian aid location as a staging ground for attacks on IDF soldiers, aid distribution and weapon supply. 

The IDF wrote an operational update on Sunday:

A Hamas command and control center located in central Gaza at an active UNRWA location was precisely struck by IAF fighter jets. The location served as a staging ground for multiple attacks on IDF troops and humanitarian aid distribution efforts as well as a weapons supply facility for Hamas terrorists.

Hamas intentionally positioned the command and control position in this location to jeopardize the Gazan civilians taking refuge there.

A Hamas command and control center located in central Gaza at an active @UNRWA location was precisely struck by IAF fighter jets. The location served as a staging ground for multiple attacks on IDF troops and humanitarian aid distribution efforts as well as a weapons supply… pic.twitter.com/vaUq4CsrsI

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 5, 2024