The Israeli military announced today, Saturday, that about 300,000 individuals have been displaced from the eastern neighborhoods of Rafah, located in the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip, since evacuation orders were issued on May 6th.
In a statement released today, the military clarified that nearly 300,000 people have sought refuge in the humanitarian zone to the northwest of the densely populated Rafah, home to around 1.4 million Palestinians.
According to Al Arabiya/Al Hadath correspondent, all residents of central Rafah have left to the outskirts of Khan Yunis.
Meanwhile, UNRWA warned that at least 300,000 individuals across Gaza were affected by new evacuation orders today, heading towards central Rafah in the south and Jabalia in the north.
The organization noted that 150,000 people fled Rafah since Monday, “seeking safety that is fundamentally absent,” according to UNRWA.
Israel ordered new evacuation operations in Rafah today as part of its preparations for “expanding its operations,” stating it is also moving into an area in northern Gaza where Hamas has reorganized its ranks.
Violent clashes erupted between Israeli forces and Palestinian factions on the outskirts of Rafah, making access to nearby vital aid crossings impossible and forcing over 110,000 individuals to flee northward.
Israel’s movement into Rafah so far falls short of the comprehensive invasion planned, but it has sparked numerous international warnings and UN concerns amid the absence of any safe zones throughout the entire territory.
The UN and other agencies have been warning for weeks that an Israeli attack on Rafah, located on the border with Egypt near key aid entry points, could cripple humanitarian operations and lead to a catastrophic rise in civilian casualties.
It is worth mentioning that over 1.4 million Palestinians, roughly half of Gaza‘s population, have migrated to Rafah, fleeing Israeli attacks in other areas, particularly in the central and northern parts of the enclave over the past 7 months.
