Palestinians Flee Rafah as Israel Continues to Attack Gaza

(The Post News)– Israel has ordered a new wave of evacuations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, as its military intensifies its operations in the region. This follows the resumption of heavy attacks after a fragile ceasefire, which had been in place since January, was broken on March 18.

Avichay Adraee, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, announced the escalation on Monday via X. He stated that Israel’s forces were returning to Rafah “with great force”, targeting the city and surrounding areas. Adraee urged residents to move immediately to al-Mawasi, a coastal area that has previously been deemed a “safe zone” but has repeatedly been struck by Israeli airstrikes since the conflict began.

Unfortunately, another Israeli attack occurred at the same time as the evacuation order. According to Al Jazeera Arabic, an Israeli attack struck a tent that was providing shelter to displaced families in the area, killing at least two people. Meanwhile, Gaza’s humanitarian situation is getting worse.

Since Israel recommenced its offensive, more than 142,000 people have been displaced, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). More than 900 people have been murdered in the most recent round of attacks, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, bringing the total number of fatalities since the conflict started in October 2023 to over 50,000.

The violence erupted following the October 7 Hamas attack, which killed more than 1,100 people in southern Gaza and led to the capture of approximately 250 individuals. At least 64 Palestinians were reported murdered on Sunday, the first day of Eid al-Fitr, as a result of Israel’s ceaseless aerial bombing of Gaza. By Monday morning, the situation had worsened, with nine more deaths recorded.

The devastation of civilian infrastructure and residences in Rafah and Khan Younis, as well as the heartbreaking deaths of farmers, demonstrate how pervasive and indiscriminate the violence has become in southern Gaza. Continuous artillery shelling has also hit the middle Gaza territory, especially Nuseirat and the Netzarim Corridor, depriving locals of protection and necessary amenities. The situation in northern Gaza, where children in Beit Hanoun were once excited to celebrate Eid, is now trapped in a constant state of fear and uncertainty.

UNICEF has determined that since March 18, at least 322 children have been murdered in Gaza in addition to the displacement. Philippe Lazzarini, the director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), denounced the escalation as “one of the darkest times for our common humanity.” According to reports, Israel wants to occupy as much as 25% of Gaza in its relaunched military campaign. Axios obtained this information from an Israeli official. Israel’s military goals in the area have significantly increased as a result of this.