RAFAH: War-weary Gazans flooded towards coastal areas of the Gaza Strip’s southern city of Rafah on Sunday, fleeing heavy bombardment in eastern zones after Israel ordered them to evacuate. “We endured three days that can be considered hell,” said Mohammed Hamad, a 24-year-old resident of eastern Rafah who was among the 300,000 Palestinians that fled the Israeli bombardment.
Mohammed Hamad recounted the ordeal faced by himself and fellow Palestinians as Israel ordered the evacuation of hundreds of thousands from the city.
Despite international opposition to any major military operation in Rafah, Israel has shifted its focus to the densely populated area, intensifying its efforts to destroy Palestinian territory. Witnesses report heavy bombardment in eastern parts of the city, with Israel deploying tanks and ground troops.
Hamad highlighted the brutality of the situation, emphasizing that the Israeli bombardment began abruptly after Israel distributed evacuation flyers, leaving residents with little time to prepare or organize their belongings.
Many families were seen hastily loading furniture and household items onto trucks, seeking refuge in nearby cities like Khan Younis. Streets outside homes were filled with people, particularly women and children, as they made the difficult decision to flee the relentless Israeli violence.
The escalating conflict in Rafah is part of a larger campaign of Israeli bombardment in Gaza that has resulted in significant civilian casualties. Since October 7 last year, at least 35,034 Palestinian people, mostly women and children, have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has further deteriorated with the closure of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing into Egypt by Israeli forces, disrupting vital food, fuel and medical supplies into the region.
Umm Mohammed Al-Mughayyir expressed the despair felt by many, stating, “We have reached a point where we wish for death.” She highlighted the plight of vulnerable persons, including those with special needs, elderly individuals, and children, who are particularly at risk amidst the ongoing bombardment.
Voicing concern over the situation, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk emphasized that a full-scale Israeli assault on Rafah “cannot take place” and called for adherence to international law to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians caught in the conflict. “The latest evacuation orders affect close to a million people in Rafah. So where should they go now? There is no safe place in Gaza!” he said in a statement.
