New Rafah evacuations ordered as Hamas claims Israeli hostage is dead

The United Nations and other agencies have warned for weeks that an Israeli assault on Rafah would cripple humanitarian operations and cause a disastrous surge in civilian casualties.

Displaced Palestinians arrive in central Gaza after fleeing from the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Picure: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana

Israel has ordered new evacuations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, forcing tens of thousands more people to move as it prepares to expand its operation.

It came as Hamas said on Saturday that Israeli hostage Nadav Popplewell had died after being wounded in an Israeli airstrike a month ago. Hamas provided no evidence for the claim.