Israel orders civilian evacuation from more areas of east Rafah

Washington says Israel's use of US supplied arms may have violated international law

- 

THE Israel Defence Forces on Saturday ordered Palestinians to leave more areas of eastern Rafah and the northern Gaza Strip as it pressed ahead with its fight against Hamas militants.

The latest evacuation order, which some residents told AFP they had received via text and audio messages to their phones, comes days after Israeli tanks and troops entered Rafah, the Palestinian territory's southernmost city, and seized a key crossing on the Egyptian border.

Gaza residents were told to leave parts of Rafah's Shabura refugee camp, the Jenina and Khirbet al-Adas neighbourhoods and other areas, and to move to a designated humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi on the coast.