Tens of Thousands Flee as Israeli Airstrikes Intensify in Southern Gaza
In a desperate bid to escape the escalating violence in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, tens of thousands of people have fled their homes since an Israeli call to evacuate part of the city earlier this week. The United Nations reported on Thursday that nearly 79,000 people have left Rafah since Monday, as fears grow of a full-scale invasion by Israeli ground forces.
The mass exodus from the eastern part of Rafah, a major hub for displaced individuals along Gaza’s border with Egypt, is just the latest instance of people being forced to flee since Israel launched a war to dismantle Hamas, the armed group responsible for a deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
Louise Wateridge, a spokeswoman for the main U.N. agency aiding Palestinians, UNRWA, shared a video on social media showing small vans loaded with mattresses driving through the streets lined with tents in Rafah. She described the situation as one of “extreme fear” due to significant bombardment in the area.
Residents and aid workers in Rafah have been struggling with grim conditions, severe shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies. Many have been living in tents or makeshift shelters, with the population swelling to over one million in recent months as people fled south.
Riyad al-Masry, a sign language interpreter, expressed his anguish at having to evacuate once again, describing the constant upheaval as “torture beyond torture.” He and his extended family decided to leave Rafah due to the looming threat of an Israeli advance into the city, as military clashes and bombardment intensified.
Israel initiated a limited operation on Monday to secure the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and destroy Hamas positions following a rocket attack that killed four Israeli soldiers. Around 110,000 people in Rafah were warned to evacuate to a designated humanitarian zone on Gaza’s coast, but aid workers have raised concerns about the area’s capacity to accommodate more displaced individuals.
The closure of southern border crossings by Israel has further complicated humanitarian efforts, with aid agencies struggling to deliver supplies to those in need. Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the U.N. humanitarian office, emphasized the importance of ensuring aid reaches those who require it, despite the challenges posed by the active war zone in Rafah.
As the situation in Rafah remains precarious, the international community continues to monitor the escalating crisis and advocate for the safe passage of humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict.
