May 11th 2024.
Israel's order to evacuate the southern city of Rafah in Gaza on Saturday has caused chaos and fear among its residents. Tens of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes as Israel prepares to expand its operation and move into an area in northern Gaza where Hamas has regrouped.
The eastern third of Rafah has already been evacuated, with Israel's operation now edging closer to the heavily populated central area. Despite this, Israel has yet to launch a full-scale invasion as originally planned. The international community has strongly opposed and criticized Israel's actions, with US President Joe Biden stating that he will not provide offensive weapons for the operation. The US also stated that there is evidence of Israel breaching international law in its conduct against Hamas, which is the strongest statement made by the Biden administration on the matter thus far.
The United Nations and other humanitarian agencies have been warning for weeks that an Israeli assault on Rafah would have devastating consequences for civilians and humanitarian operations. With over 1.4 million Palestinians seeking shelter in Rafah, the evacuations are forcing people to return to northern areas that have been previously destroyed by Israeli attacks. This has caused an estimated 110,000 people to flee before the recent order, adding an additional 40,000 to the number. Many of these people have already been displaced multiple times and have limited options for finding a safe place to stay.
Georgios Petropoulos, an official with the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, stated that there are no supplies available to assist those who are being forced to move. The lack of tents, blankets, and other basic items is making it difficult for people to find shelter and stay warm in the harsh conditions. The Israeli military has also taken control of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, forcing it to shut down and cutting off a main point of entry for fuel.
The situation is dire in southern Gaza, with the World Food Program warning that they will run out of food by Saturday and aid groups stating that fuel supplies will soon be depleted. This is causing hospitals to shut down critical operations and stopping the delivery of aid to other parts of Gaza. The ongoing conflict has also spread to northern Gaza, where Hamas has regrouped in an area that has been previously targeted by Israeli attacks. Israeli Army spokesman Avichay Adraee has warned residents in Jabaliya and Beit Lahiya to evacuate to safer areas as they are in a dangerous combat zone.
The United Nations agency responsible for supporting people in Gaza, known as UNRWA, stated that around 300,000 people have been affected by evacuation orders in Rafah and Jabaliya. However, this number is expected to be higher as these are heavily populated areas. Louise Wateridge, a UNRWA spokesperson, expressed concern over the evacuation orders and the lack of safe places for people to go. As Palestinians in Rafah's Shaboura neighborhood pack their belongings and prepare to flee, they are being sent to what Israel calls "humanitarian safe zones" along the Muwasi coastal strip. However, these areas are already overcrowded and lack basic facilities, making it difficult for people to find adequate shelter.
Meanwhile, the strikes and bombardments continue across Gaza. Overnight, at least 19 people, including women and children, were killed in central Gaza. The ongoing conflict has already claimed the lives of over 34,800 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children. The Gaza Health Ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in their figures. The situation in Gaza remains dire and the actions of Israel continue to cause widespread devastation and suffering.
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