Israel's Rafah evacuation order sparks global alarm
Israel called on Palestinians to leave eastern Rafah Monday ahead of a ground invasion of the southern Gaza city, amid increasing global alarm about the consequences of such a move.
The evacuation call followed disagreement between Israel and Hamas over the Palestinian militant group's demands to end the seven-month war, during weekend negotiations in Cairo.
Egyptian state-linked media said the talks stalled after a rocket attack claimed by Hamas's armed wing killed four Israeli soldiers on Sunday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to send ground troops into Rafah regardless of any truce, defying international concerns.
US President Joe Biden and Netanyahu were to speak later Monday, the White House said.
«We have made our views clear on a major ground invasion of Rafah to the Israeli government, and the president will speak with the prime minister today,» a spokesman for the National Security Council told AFP.
«We continue to believe that a hostage deal is the best way to preserve the lives of the hostages, and avoid an invasion of Rafah, where more than a million people are sheltering.
»Those talks are ongoing now."
Hamas said Israel was planning a large-scale offensive «without regard for the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe» in the besieged Gaza Strip or for the fate of hostages held there.
A Palestinian presidency statement called on Washington to prevent a «massacre» in Rafah.
Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi posted on
