Israeli military estimated that 300,000 residents have been displaced from Rafah this week following initial evacuation orders issued for eastern parts of the city on Monday. The exodus, marked by families walking with children and the injured in wheelchairs along littered and sewage-filled roads, has been spurred by fears of impending conflict.
Launching its ground assault into Rafah on Monday night, the military planted Israeli flags along Gaza’s border with Egypt, effectively sealing off the main crossing for aid and fuel. Consequently, severely wounded Palestinians and foreign aid workers are stranded, unable to leave.
Further exacerbating the crisis, Israel issued new evacuation orders in Gaza’s southernmost city, forcing additional Palestinians to relocate ahead of an anticipated expanded ground operation. These fresh directives, extending to areas closer to the city center, come with warnings of “great force against terror organizations,” targeting alleged Hamas battalions in Rafah.
Despite international apprehension over the safety of over 1 million Palestinians, including half a million children, seeking shelter in Rafah, the military presses forward. More than half of Gaza’s population had already been displaced in Rafah, which had served as the primary hub for aid groups throughout the seven months of conflict.
