Srinagar, May 06 (KNS): The Israeli army said Monday it was evacuating about 1 lakh people from eastern Rafah, ahead of an expected ground assault in the southern city of Gaza.

Reports quoting Israel army said that the estimate is around 100,000 people.

They said that about 1.2 million people are currently sheltering in Rafah, most having fled there from elsewhere in Gaza during the seven-month war between Israel and Hamas.

Earlier, 16 people including 9 of a family were killed in Israel air strikes in the Rafah after Hamas launched rocket, killing three Israel soldiers. (KNS)