Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians crammed into the small southern Gaza border city of Rafah are being forced to contemplate being displaced once more as an Israeli offensive looms.
Nearly half of the population of Gaza, which is 2.3 million people, have sought refuge in the border city. They are faced with a daunting decision: either remain in the already cramped city of Rafah, which used to be home to 280,000 people, and face the impending attack, or take their chances and travel north through a region that is still embroiled in conflict.
Tent settlements have taken over large sections of land, including some cemeteries in Rafah. Aid workers have labeled the city as a place of extreme hopelessness and have raised concerns that a major Israeli attack in such a densely populated area could result in significant civilian casualties, potentially constituting a violation of international law.
While Rafah has been hit by Israeli strikes throughout the war, the bombing and Israeli troops have been edging ever closer to the city, whose southern boundary is delineated by the mainly closed border with Egypt.
Increased concerns about a potential Israeli attack have arisen due to recent strikes near Rafah, such as the shelling of the western road by Israeli gunboats on Wednesday.
“The mood this week is one of fear, according to Raed al-Nims, the media director for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Gaza. He expressed concerns about the potential expansion of the ground operation in Rafah.”
The increasing feeling of hopelessness has been emphasized by the fact that a few individuals who attempted to depart from the city to places like Nuseirat, located in central Gaza, have been unable to communicate with their loved ones in recent days.
Many families interviewed by the Guardian this week stated that they would hold off on leaving until they received an official evacuation order from the Israeli military, hoping that it would provide a secure route out in case of a large-scale attack.
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As food shortages, disease, and poor sanitation continue to worsen, the impending attack has caused many to feel hopeless. Some reported that their children were too scared to sleep due to the approaching conflict.
“I am willing to relocate to Rafah if it is deemed necessary,” stated 25-year-old Moamen Jarad, who had already escaped to the city from northern Gaza at the start of the war, when it was one of the primary targets of the Israeli ground offensive. “My hometown is Beit Lahiya, but I am considering moving further north if feasible. We will await instructions from Israel on where we should relocate and they may even suggest specific areas.”
Majed Rezeq, 46 years old, expressed the obstacle that anyone considering leaving faces. He stated, “I would go to our home in northern Gaza. My entire family wants to go back, but it is not possible. The route is completely blocked. If there was a safe way to go to another area, whether through central Gaza or Khan Younis, I would do it. But it is risky. It is even riskier than staying here.”
On Wednesday, the secretary general of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, expressed his deep concern about reports of the Israeli military’s plans to target Rafah. He stated that such an action would greatly worsen the already dire humanitarian situation and have unknown consequences for the surrounding region.
Israeli authorities have stated that they will communicate with Egypt prior to launching a ground attack in Rafah. Egypt is growing concerned about the potential offensive on their border and will work towards relocating the majority of displaced individuals to the north.
The current situation in Gaza remains uncertain. With over half of the area facing evacuation orders from Israeli forces, ongoing conflict and extensive damage to residential areas and public facilities persists.
Israel has announced that there will be ongoing conflict in certain areas of northern Gaza as Hamas militants and leaders have recently resurfaced there. The Israeli Defense Forces previously declared that they had finished their operations in the north and reduced their troop presence.
The concern about the possibility of Israel targeting Rafah in the near future arises from various statements made by high-ranking Israeli leaders, such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Despite the loss of over 27,000 Palestinian lives, Israel has yet to successfully accomplish its objectives in the conflict with Hamas.
Although Israel has stated multiple times that they have significantly weakened Hamas, the conflict continues without any proof of the deaths of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar or military leader Mohammed Deif. Israel has only managed to rescue one hostage, while others have been released through talks with Hamas.
According to Israel, Sinwar and other top Hamas leaders are currently located in the southern area near Rafah. Defense Minister Gallant stated that they will also target areas in the center and south of Gaza, specifically targeting the remaining Hamas members in Rafah. He warned that any terrorists hiding in Rafah will meet the same fate as those in Khan Younis and Gaza.
During a televised statement, Gallant stated that Israel’s belief was that Sinwar was no longer in control of Hamas. Rather, he was preoccupied with his own safety. Gallant referred to Sinwar as a fugitive terrorist, instead of the leader of Hamas.
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According to recent statements made by officials, an Israeli attack on Rafah would serve a secondary goal of gaining control over the Philadelphi route, a small pathway along the border with Egypt.
Israel considers controlling the 14km path crucial in stopping Hamas from using tunnels to smuggle weapons from Egypt into Gaza. This would also give Israel complete authority over all entry points to Gaza.
Egypt firmly opposes this aspiration, emphasizing that the path was established as a neutral area according to the 2005 Philadelphi agreement between Egypt and Israel, which was reached after Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. This replaced a previous agreement that allowed Israel to monitor the route following the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.
The situation has caused heightened concerns over the potential repercussions of an Israeli strike on Rafah. The United Nations has highlighted the possibility of a significant loss of innocent lives.
According to Jens Laerke, a representative of the United Nations’ humanitarian affairs office, indiscriminate bombing in densely populated areas could be considered a violation of international humanitarian law and classified as a war crime. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, Laerke stressed the importance of preventing intensified hostilities in Rafah, as it could result in significant civilian casualties. He urged all efforts to be made to prevent such a scenario.
Ashraf, a 40-year-old Palestinian displaced from Rafah, stated that they are waiting for instructions from Israel on where to go. He affirmed that Rafah will be their final destination and they will not leave the Gaza Strip. The only options are to return to their homes or stay and potentially perish.
Source: theguardian.com
