May 21st 2024.
Recent satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press have revealed a significant number of Palestinians leaving the southern city of Rafah in Gaza. The photos, taken three days apart, document the changes on the ground after Israel issued an evacuation order for the city on May 6th. The first photo from May 5th shows crowded tent camps in the central and northwest regions of the city, while the second photo from May 8th shows a noticeable decrease in the number of tents, indicating that many Palestinians had already packed up and left in response to the order.
One particular set of before-and-after images shows the Tel al-Sultan refugee camp, which was built for families who were displaced during the war surrounding the establishment of Israel in 1948. In just three days, at least half of the hundreds of tents that once filled the area were gone, most likely due to Palestinians fleeing the city. Another set of photos depicts the central Ash Shabourah neighborhood of Rafah, where the once-crowded streets filled with tents have now been replaced with patches of sand.
This mass exodus comes as Israel continues to threaten a full-scale invasion of Rafah, causing concern and alarm around the world. Before the evacuation orders were given, the city was home to approximately 1.3 million Palestinians, many of whom had already been displaced from other parts of Gaza. The United Nations estimates that the number of Palestinians who have fled Rafah could be as high as 900,000, while Israel's military claims it is closer to 800,000.
It is still unclear where all of the displaced Palestinians are going, as there is a severe shortage of resources such as food, water, and tents in other areas of Gaza. The designated zone where Israel has directed Palestinians is already overcrowded and described by residents as a squalid makeshift tent camp. This situation has caused concern among human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, who have called on the international community to intervene and put a stop to Israel's plans for a ground offensive.
Despite Israel's claims of limited operations in Rafah, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The mass displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes has left them terrified and with nowhere to go. The conflict has already taken a toll on both sides, with over 1,200 Israelis and approximately 35,000 Palestinians killed since it began after an attack by Hamas on October 7th. As ceasefire talks remain at a standstill, international mediators are growing frustrated with the unwillingness of both Israel and Hamas to reach a resolution. Israel's military has stated that the war is expected to continue for at least another six months.
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