Ongoing Israeli Incursion Displaces Nearly 1 Million Palestinians from Rafah
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reported on Monday that in the past three weeks, nearly 1 million Palestinians have fled the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, as a result of the ongoing Israeli military operation in the area, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.
According to UNRWA, prior to the start of the Israeli incursion on May 6th, Rafah had been home and shelter to over 1.5 million Palestinians who had previously been displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing conflict.
However, the agency warned that the mass exodus from Rafah is occurring “with nowhere safe to go and amidst bombardment, lack of food and water,” making it increasingly difficult to provide aid and protection to the displaced population.
The Israeli army began expanding its incursion into Rafah on Tuesday, engaging in heavy shelling and bombing that has forced thousands of residents to flee westward towards Khan Younis and other central Gaza areas.
Despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, the Israeli offensive in Gaza has continued, resulting in the deaths of at least 36,050 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, and leaving over 81,000 others injured since October.
The International Court of Justice has accused Israel of “genocide” and ordered the country to ensure its forces do not commit further acts of genocide and provide humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
It should be mentioned that Spain, Norway and Ireland formally recognized a Palestinian state on Tuesday in a coordinated effort by the three Western European nations to add international pressure on Israel to soften its response to last year’s Hamas-led attack.
