Tel Aviv: According to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), approximately 110,000 individuals have evacuated Rafah in the southern region of the Gaza Strip since the onset of the Israeli military’s advancement towards the city. UNRWA noted that the situation in the Gaza Strip remains perilous, with widespread displacement and dire living conditions prompting an urgent call for an immediate ceasefire.
The Palestinian border authority has confirmed the continued closure of the Rafah border crossing to Egypt, obstructing humanitarian aid deliveries.
Israeli military operations persist in Rafah and Al-Saitun, with troops deployed and efforts focused on locating and neutralizing tunnel networks and combatting terrorist elements. Israeli airstrikes targeted areas from which projectiles had been launched towards Israel, including the Kerem Shalom border crossing, a vital conduit for humanitarian aid.
While military actions intensify, concerns mount over the humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by the displacement of over a million individuals within Rafah. International partners, notably the United States, have cautioned against escalated military engagements, citing the grave humanitarian ramifications.
Israel’s pursuit to dismantle Hamas, which it accuses of orchestrating attacks and concealing leadership within Rafah’s tunnel networks, underscores the ongoing tensions and the complexity of the conflict.
