Netanyahu Vows Safe Evacuation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that civilians crammed into the southern Gaza Strip would be able to leave before troops enter in pursuit of Hamas militants.

His comments, alongside visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, follow international fears over the fate of the roughly 1.5 million people who have sought refuge in Rafah, most of them displaced from Gaza's war.

The office of the right-wing premier, whose security and war cabinets were to discuss the latest international efforts towards a truce deal, had said he approved the military's plan for an operation in Rafah as well as "the evacuation of the population".

"Our goal in eliminating the remaining battalions in Rafah goes hand-in-hand with enabling the civilian population to leave Rafah. It's not something that we will do while keeping the population locked in place," Netanyahu said at a press appearance with Scholz.

Netanyahu leads a coalition of religious and ultra-nationalist parties. His failure to bring home the hostages taken by Hamas militants during their attack which started the war has led to mounting protests within his country as well as domestic calls for early elections.

Hamas's unprecedented attack from Gaza on October 7 resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has carried out a relentless bombardment and ground offensive which has killed at least 31,645 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.

International envoys were planning to meet in Qatar soon to revive stalled talks for a ceasefire and hostage release deal.

A Hamas proposal calls for an Israeli withdrawal from "all cities and populated areas" in Gaza during a six-week truce and for more humanitarian aid.