Hamas threats to suspend indirect negotiations with Israel after Rafah evacuation order

GAZA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Hamas on Monday threatened to suspend all indirect negotiations with Israel right after Israel ordered the Palestinian residents to evacuate the eastern areas of Rafah in southern Gaza.

Israel's threats to expand its operations in the city of Rafah "will have negative repercussions on the indirect negotiations, which may lead to the cessation of Hamas participation," a senior Hamas official, who preferred not to mention his name, told Xinhua.

The official added that "even if Israel invades Rafah it will not achieve any of its war goals ... it will never end the Palestinian resistance in Gaza."

Earlier in the day, the Israeli army ordered the Palestinian residents to evacuate the eastern areas of Rafah city in the southern of the besieged coastal enclave.

Avichai Adraee, a spokesperson of the Israeli army, said in a press statement that "for all people who live in the neighborhoods of Al-Salam, Al-Jeneina, Tabba Zaraa, and Al-Byouk in the Rafah area in blocks 10-16, 28, and 270, the army will work with extreme force against terrorist organizations there."

He added that "anyone who is near terrorist organizations is to put his life and the life of his family at risk," calling them to evacuate their areas immediately to avoid any danger to their lives.

He pointed out that the army is expanding the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, which includes field hospitals, tents, and supplies including food, water, and medicines.

The operation in eastern Rafah will move forward gradually based on the ongoing assessment of the situation, pointing out that the army will distribute leaflets, send SMS messages and phone calls, as well as broadcast information through the Arab media, Adraea explained.

He stressed that the Israeli army will continue to work to achieve the goals of the war, including "dismantling Hamas and returning all the kidnapped."

Israel considers Rafah the last major stronghold of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, where about 1.4 million Palestinians took shelter.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli army has launched a large-scale war at Hamas, the Islamist group ruling Gaza since 2007, right after it carried out its unprecedented attack at the southern Israeli cities and towns adjacent to the coastal enclave.