As Israel insists on Rafah offensive, voices of reason call for peace

Israel has asked Palestinians to evacuate parts of the city of Rafah, in southern Gaza, in possible preparation for an assault on Hamas units that foreign powers fear could take a big civilian toll.

Here are some reactions:

Hamas

"We confirm that any military offensive in Rafah will not be a picnic to the fascist occupation army. Our brave resistance on top of them, the Qassam Brigades, is fully prepared to defend our people and defeat this enemy, foil its plans and goals," the Palestinian resistance group said in a statement.

Official Sami Abu Zuhuri: "This is a dangerous escalation that will have consequences. The US administration, alongside the occupation, bears responsibility for this terrorism."

Resident Abu Muhey, sheltering with family north of Rafah

"They (the Israeli military) are calling people in the eastern area of Rafah, some also in the west near the Rafah crossing, ordering them to leave ... We don't know what to do, but I will take my family to Deir al-Balah though I am not in the targeted area, maybe not yet."

Israel's Rafah evacuation order 'unacceptable': EU's Borrell

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell condemned Israel's order for Palestinians living in eastern Rafah to flee the southern Gazan city ahead of an expected ground assault.

"Israel's evacuation orders to civilians in Rafah portend the worst: more war and famine. It is unacceptable. Israel must renounce to a ground offensive," Borrell wrote in English on X, formerly Twitter.

"The EU, with the International Community, can and must act to prevent such scenario," he added.

UN Palestinian relief agency UNWRA

"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."

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi

"Another massacre of the Palestinians is in the making. Israel is warning Palestinians to leave Rafah as it threatens an attack. All must act now to prevent it. Failure to prevent the massacre will be an indelible stain on Int’l Cmyt (international community). Too many massacres have been allowed. Enough."

Israeli military operation in Rafah will threaten truce talks: Hamas official

Hamas official Izzat al-Rashiq said in a statement that any Israeli military offensive in the city of Rafah, in southern Gaza, will put ceasefire negotiations in jeopardy.

Mohammad al-Najjar, 23-year-old with family in western Rafah

"People have nowhere to go, no area is safe. All that remains in Gaza is death. I wish I could erase these last seven months from my memory. So many of our dreams and hopes have faded. I love life. The people of Gaza love life. We are ambitious people. I want to continue my studies. It's my right to do so. We have a right to live in peace and security."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh

"The occupation authorities have actually begun preparing to commit the greatest crime of genocide by invading Rafah.

"The American administration, which provides financial and military support to the occupation and stands against the international community to prevent the implementation of international legitimacy resolutions and the cessation of aggression, is the (one) that encourages Netanyahu and his leaders to continue their massacres against the Palestinian people, whether in the Gaza Strip or in the West Bank, as is happening in Tulkarm Governorate and its camps."

Aminah Adwan, Palestinian in Rafah

"We have been awake since 2:00 am because of the bombardment, and we woke up in the morning to find rain pouring, we drowned in the rain, our clothes and items as well - we are out on the streets. We also woke up to much worse news, to evacuate Rafah.

"The biggest genocide will take place, the biggest catastrophe will take place in Rafah. I call on the whole Arab world to interfere for a ceasefire - let them interfere and save us from what we are in. We are tired and over this."

France 'strongly opposed' to offensive: ministry

France said it was "strongly opposed" to Israel's Rafah offensive, ahead of an expected ground assault in the southern city of Gaza.

"France reiterates that it is strongly opposed to an Israeli offensive on Rafah, where more than 1.3 million people are taking refuge in a situation of great distress," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "The forced displacement of a civilian population constitutes a war crime."

Charity Actionaid

"Forcing over a million displaced Palestinians from Rafah to evacuate without a safe destination is not only unlawful but would lead to catastrophic consequences.

"Our aid workers are reporting some of the most severe conditions in recent memory with widespread disease, starvation and chaos. Let us be clear, there are no safe zones in Gaza.

"The international community must act swiftly to prevent further atrocities and hold themselves as well as the Israeli government to account - if an invasion of Rafah is your 'red line' will you do everything possible to stop this imminent attack?"

British surgeon Nick Maynard

"We are at Rafah now. Two huge bombs have just gone off immediately outside the crossing. There’s a lot of gunfire as well about 100 meters from us. We are very unclear whether we will get out. It’s an extremely volatile situation. Driving through Rafah the tension was palpable with people evacuating as rapidly as they could. There’s huge tension in the air."

Salama Marouf, head of Hamas-run Palestinian Government Media Office

"This announcement confirms the premeditated intention to launch an aggression against the city of Rafah. It aligns with the statements made by the criminal Netanyahu, indicating that the occupation has gone into ceasefire negotiations deceptively without abandoning the idea of a wide-ranging aggression on Rafah.

"Today’s announcement continues the approach of Zionist crimes and genocide against our people, threatening the lives of one-and-a-half million Palestinians in Rafah, despite all international and humanitarian warnings of the risks of any ground aggression on Rafah."

"We have noticed a limited response from citizens to the Zionist evacuation orders, and vital institutions east of Rafah continue to operate as usual, including the Rafah border crossing and Abu Yousef Al-Najjar Hospital. This reflects our people's determination to thwart the occupation's plans and send a clear message that it will achieve nothing in Rafah except what it has faced in other cities."