Chaos in Rafah: Hundreds of thousands flee the impending offensive!

Chaos in Rafah: Hundreds of thousands flee the impending offensive!

In recent days, Israel's military offensive against Hamas in Gaza has intensified. In particular, the city of Rafah, an important border crossing with Egypt, is the focus of events. Loud Small newspaper The plan is to declare Rafah a security zone that will be occupied militarily in the future. Describing the situation, a distraught father says Rafah is "gone" and "wiped out" as the destruction of homes and property continues.

The humanitarian situation has worsened dramatically as hundreds of thousands have fled Rafah to the neighboring town of Khan Younis. Refugees report catastrophic living conditions, which worsen particularly during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr. UNRWA's Philippe Lazzarini says at least 140,000 people are affected by a new comprehensive evacuation order Euronews.

Evacuation order and refugee distress

Palestinians fleeing Rafah are transporting their belongings on donkey carts, bicycles or even on their backs. Many migrants report the panic that is spreading in the city. Health authorities in the Gaza Strip have already reported at least 20 casualties from an airstrike in a suburb of Gaza City this morning, followed by another attack on a school building where displaced people were sheltering, which left more than 27 people dead Small newspaper.

Additionally, more than 50,000 Palestinians have died since the offensive began, while approximately 90 percent of Gaza's population has been displaced during this conflict. The UN is warning of an impending humanitarian catastrophe as no humanitarian aid has entered the Gaza Strip over the past eight days. Water and food shortages are exacerbating the situation, leading to a water shortage that is described as critical World.

Combat operations and hostage taking

In parallel with the evacuation attempts, the Israeli military is intensifying its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, including carrying out targeted attacks on suspected Hamas positions. Israel has reportedly undertaken a sweeping operation in recent weeks to destroy Hamas' underground tunnels and rocket workshops, eliminating 50 suspected terrorists Euronews.

The situation continues to escalate, not least due to the ongoing hostage situation in which 59 people are being held captive by Hamas. Israel is demanding the release of living hostages and the handover of their bodies to extend a possible ceasefire. More than a year and a half after Hamas's first attack on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people in Israel and took over 250 hostages, the situation remains tense. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that his goal is to completely destroy Hamas.

The reports of civilian casualties, people being flown and the destruction of infrastructure make it clear that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is in a critical state, while international voices such as those from the Arab League and the African Union warn of a possible “genocide”. Pressure on civilians is growing as the conflict enters a new phase with no exit in sight.