The Israeli military is urging people to leave parts of Rafah in southern Gaza where it has been threatening to launch a new assault on Hamas.

They claim residents will be 'safer' in a humanitarian zone near the coast where there are tents, food, and medicine.

It comes after Egyptian-brokered peace talks again broke down without a deal, although the negotiations are expected to resume tomorrow.

Leave Rafah

John Sparks from Sky News said those being told to leave Rafah have already fled fighting elsewhere.

“They are at the point of another mass migration back to the north to an area that has been badly bombed,” he said.

“I think this is going to create a storm of protests internationally.”

More than a million people are currently crammed into Rafah.

Palestinians look for survivors in the buildings destroyed following an Israeli airstrike, 22/10/2023. Image: AP Image/Alamy

Former British ambassador to Libya and Jordan - Peter Millett - said a ceasefire is not in the political interest of Hamas or Benjamin Netanyahu.

“[Netanyahu] wants to hang on to his position,” he said.

“He has been very good at it for the last 20 years and that’s his main objective – not the release of hostages or the best interests of Israel.

“It’s the same for the Hamas leadership; at the moment they can show that they are winning and that they have resisted Israel.”

People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group in Tel Aviv, Israel, 13/04/2024. Image: AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg

Chair of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) Zoe Lawlor said Israel is never held accountable for its actions.

“The reason Israel can behave like this is because of the impunity that the international community has granted it for almost 76 years now,” he said.

“Until there are any consequences of Israel’s actions, they will just continue to commit more egregious crimes against Palestinian people.”

The death toll continues to pile up in Gaza where a dozen Palestinians were killed last night in response to a Hamas rocket attack that killed three Israeli soldiers yesterday.

Taoiseach reaction

Taoiseach Simon Harris and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sánchez are understood to have shared their concern about reports Israel has ordered an evacuation of civilians from parts of Rafah in preparation for a military operation.

The pair spoke on the telephone this morning discussing the situation in Garza and agreed to continue working together to push for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional and immediate release of all remaining hostages.

They also discussed their ongoing work on recognising the State of Palestine.

Main image: Tents to accommodate refugees in Rafah. Image: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo