The agency said that as Israel’s military has been carrying out what it says is a limited operation in Rafah since early May, many shelters of Palestinian civilians in the city were destroyed. The Israeli army then asked Palestinian civilians to leave the city and go to an expanded humanitarian zone, about 20 kilometers from Rafah.

The moves have forced 1 million Palestinians to flee Rafah, which was considered the last refuge for Gaza Strip residents in the past 10 months.

UNRWA said that thousands of families who left Rafah are taking shelter in Khan Younis which finds itself in an extremely difficult position in terms of material and medical facilities. The city has been heavily destroyed during previous clashes between the Israeli army and Hamas forces.

During Sunday’s visit to the Israeli army’s Southern Command Headquarters, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that the Israeli army is making progress in Rafah and is working on post-conflict Gaza management plans.

“Under my direction, the security forces are advancing an alternative government to Hamas, within the framework of which we will isolate areas, remove the Hamas members and bring in other forces that will enable a different government,” said Gallant.

Also on Sunday, Ophir Falk, chief foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said that Israel had accepted a framework deal for winding down the Gaza war now being advanced by US President Joe Biden.

Under the three‑phase plan, Hamas would continue to play a role in incremental arrangements mediated by Egypt and Qatar.