800,000 people have been forced to flee Rafah amid Israel’s military operation, according to the United Nations.
Fierce clashes and bombings erupted in the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Saturday. The Israeli military said air strikes hit more than 70 targets across the Gaza Strip, while ground troops carried out operations in eastern Rafah, resulting in forced displacement of nearly 1 million people from the territory where they had settled some time ago. The UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said:
Once again, nearly half of the population of Rafah or 800,000 people are on the road, having been forced to flee since the Israeli forces started the military operation in the area on 6 May.
On Saturday evening, the Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for parts of northern Gaza, saying militants in the area had fired rockets at Israel. Following the evacuation order instructing people to flee to so-called safe zones, people were sent mainly to the middle areas of Gaza and Khan Younis, despite the fact the areas are lacking a safe zone, water and sanitation. He stressed:
Every time, they are forced to leave behind the few belongings they have: mattresses, tents, cooking utensils and basic supplies that they cannot carry or pay to transport. (…) Every time, they have to start from scratch, all over again.
He cited the example of a southern town, Al-Mawassi, which lacks the minimum conditions to provide humanitarian relief in a safe and dignified manner, and is virtually without buildings or roads. Al-Mawassi used to be home to over 400,000 people before the recent escalation, but is now overcrowded and cannot absorb more people; the situation is similar in Deir al Balah. He said:
The claim that people in Gaza can move to “safe” or “humanitarian” zones is false. Each time, it puts the lives of civilians at serious risk. (…) Gaza does not have any safe zones. No place is safe. No one is safe.
In addition, the situation is again greatly exacerbated by the lack of humanitarian assistance, he continued, noting that humanitarian aid is no longer available, including food and other basic necessities. Key crossings into Gaza remain closed or unsafe to access, as they are located near or in combat zones. The acute need for fuel to distribute aid is also exacerbating the situation.
Only 33 lorries carrying humanitarian aid have reached southern Gaza since 6 May.
Key land crossings have been closed or operating at limited capacity due to the fighting. Crossings into Gaza must re-open and be safe for access as “without the re-opening of these routes, the deprivation of assistance and catastrophic humanitarian conditions will persist,” according to Lazzarini. Besides, some aid has begun to enter Gaza via a temporary floating pier built by the US military.
Earlier on Saturday, the UN press office said the World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that 10 lorry loads of food had been delivered to its warehouse the previous day. According to US Central Command, approximately 500 tonnes of aid is expected to be delivered across the dock in the coming days.
Israel said Rafah, where four entire Hamas battalions are stationed, remains a major stronghold of the terrorist group. Many of the remaining 124 hostages kidnapped in the 7 October Hamas attack are being held in Rafah. The Israeli retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 35,300 people, mostly civilians.
Lazzarini called for a speedy resolution to the conflict emphasised the commitments of the parties to the conflict, starting with the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid for all civilians in need, wherever they may be.
The displaced population must have access to basic survival items, including food, water, and shelter, as well as hygiene, health, assistance and above all safety. (…) Above all, it is time to agree on a ceasefire. Any further escalation in the fighting will only wreak more havoc on civilians and make it impossible to finally have the peace and stability that Israelis and Palestinians desperately need and deserve.
The humanitarian catastrophe in the region comes on the back of political wrangling in Israel’s military cabinet, which flared up Saturday night when Minister Benny Gantz said he would resign if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not approve a six-point post-war plan for the Gaza Strip, including the establishment of a multinational civilian administration in the post-war Gaza.
