The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched an attack on Rafah yesterday, a region previously designated as a “security zone” by Israel for the residents of the Gaza Strip.
Currently, 1.4 million Palestinians, including over 600,000 children, have sought refuge there and are now trapped with no means of escape.
The IDF issued an evacuation order for approximately 110,000 residents of the eastern side of Rafah on Monday.
Hours later, Hamas announced its acceptance of the terms proposed by the mediators (Egypt, Qatar, USA) for a ceasefire. In response, Israel rejected the terms and initiated aerial bombardments in the area.
On Tuesday morning, the IDF deployed tanks into Rafah, seizing control of the border crossing with Egypt and effectively closing the last entry point for humanitarian aid in the southern region.
Israel claims that the Palestinian side of the border is being utilized for preparing terrorist attacks and asserts that approximately 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza.
Their objective was to capture Rafah, aiming for greater control over cross-border activities with Egypt.
The Israeli Foreign Minister stated that “the army’s entry into Rafah helps Israel achieve its two main goals: the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas.”
The Rafah border crossing served as the last crucial “lifeline” for the people of Gaza.
It facilitated the entry of trucks carrying humanitarian aid and provided a route for evacuating the sick and injured who could not receive adequate treatment in the region’s deteriorating healthcare facilities.
The only alternative crossing point in the south, Kerem Shalom, reopened today, long after it was closed by Israeli order.
Western nations have openly criticized the IDF’s assault on Rafah.
The UN Secretary-General warned that a full-scale IDF invasion of Rafah would be a “strategic mistake, a political disaster, and a humanitarian nightmare.”
The UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) cautioned that “the famine faced by people in Gaza will become even worse” if the supply routes are severed.
The head of the World Food Program raised concerns, stating that famine conditions observed in the north are now spreading to the south.
Since October 7th:
Nearly 35,000 Palestinians, including approximately 14,500 children, have lost their lives.
Close to 78,000 individuals have sustained injuries.
Roughly 1.7 million people have been displaced from their homes within Gaza.
Approximately 1.1 million individuals are confronting “catastrophic levels” of food insecurity.
