Rafah Exodus: 800,000 Displaced Amid Gaza Conflict
Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies as Israel Presses Offensive
Nearly 800,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah since Israel began its offensive against the southern Gaza city, according to Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. The mass displacement comes amid escalating violence, with Israeli attacks killing dozens across Gaza.
“Since the war in Gaza began, Palestinians have been forced to flee multiple times in search of safety that they have never found, including in UNRWA shelters,” Lazzarini said. He highlighted the dire conditions, noting that displaced individuals leave behind essential items and face repeated upheavals.
Intensified Fighting and Rising Casualties
Saturday witnessed severe fighting not only in Rafah but across Gaza. The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that 83 Palestinians were killed in the previous 24 hours. Later, Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent Ismail Alghoul stated that 40 bodies arrived at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza following an Israeli airstrike on Jabalia refugee camp. At least 15 people died in a single attack.
The Wafa news agency confirmed additional casualties: four Palestinians killed in Khan Younis and three in Nuseirat refugee camp. The relentless violence has left many Palestinians with no safe refuge, reinforcing humanitarian concerns.
International Pleas and Humanitarian Blockades
Despite international warnings, including from the United States, Israel continues its offensive in Rafah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has ignored calls to halt the assault, instead seizing the Rafah crossing to Egypt. This critical lifeline for aid and medical evacuations has been closed since May 7, trapping thousands of sick and injured Palestinians.
Before the conflict, Rafah housed 1.5 million people, many of whom had already been displaced from other parts of Gaza. Israeli forces have pushed civilians southward, resulting in repeated displacements as they now flee north from Rafah.
Military Operations and Casualty Reports
Netanyahu has described Rafah as Hamas’s last stronghold in Gaza. However, intense battles continue in Jabalia and Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood. Israel claimed it dismantled Hamas’s “military framework” in the north earlier this year.
Hamas’s Qassam Brigades reported multiple attacks on Israeli forces, including RPG strikes on military vehicles in Rafah and Jabalia. They also claimed to have killed 20 Israeli soldiers in two separate operations in Rafah.
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The Israeli military announced the recovery of the remains of Israeli captive Ron Binyamin, killed during Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel. This followed the discovery of three other captives’ bodies, based on new intelligence. However, Hamas downplayed these findings, accusing Israeli leadership of endangering soldiers for propaganda purposes.
Humanitarian and Global Reactions
The ongoing conflict has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with nowhere deemed safe for those fleeing the violence. The international community continues to call for restraint and immediate aid access to affected areas.
As the situation in Gaza deteriorates, the plight of its residents remains dire, with many forced to leave behind their homes and belongings repeatedly, searching for safety that remains elusive. The humanitarian toll of the conflict underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution and support for displaced populations.