The Israel Defense Forces on Monday ordered the mass evacuation of residents in the Gazan city of Rafah, citing the need to eliminate Hamas terrorists in the city after Israel restarted military operations in Gaza.

"The IDF is returning to intense operations to dismantle the capabilities of the terrorist organizations in these areas," the IDF's Arabic-language spokesman, Col. Avichay Adraee, wrote on X, according to a translation by Fox News. "For your safety, move immediately to the shelters in Al Mawasi."

The evacuation order comes as Israeli forces move to retake control of Rafah, a city near the Egyptian border that Israel considers critical to stopping the smuggling of weapons to Hamas.

While the Israeli military had withdrawn from Rafah as part of January's ceasefire agreement, Israel on March 18 resumed military operations in Gaza after Hamas failed to release 59 remaining hostages, including 24 who are believed to be alive.

The Trump administration has backed Israel's offensive, with National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes saying that "Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war."