RAMALLAH, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian presidency warned Monday that Israel would commit a "crime of genocide" in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, following an Israeli call on Palestinian residents to evacuate from eastern Rafah in preparation for a possible ground offensive.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman of the Palestinian presidency, said in a press statement that Israel has actually begun preparing to commit the largest "crime of genocide" by invading Rafah, holding the U.S. administration responsible for these dangerous Israeli policies.

He said the invasion of Rafah would mean that 1.4 million Palestinian citizens would be subjected to "a genocidal massacre and displacement," calling on the U.S. administration to act immediately to prevent it, and to hold Israel accountable for the serious "violations" it is committing against international law before it is too late.

The Israeli army on Monday ordered Palestinian residents to evacuate the eastern neighborhoods of Gaza's southernmost city Rafah, ahead of a planned offensive in the area.

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."

Israel considers Rafah the last major stronghold of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Located in the southernmost part of the Strip, Rafah shelters approximately 1.4 million Palestinians.

Israel has launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, following Hamas's surprise attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people. Enditem

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