Displaced Palestinians Flee Rafah as Israeli Airstrikes Intensify, UN Officials Say
Palestinians displaced from Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, are fleeing north to Deir al Balah amid intensified Israeli airstrikes and the prospect of ground operations, according to a UN body.
“The intensification of airstrikes on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s population lives crammed into less than 20% of the Gaza Strip, and statements by Israeli officials about a ground operation in Gaza have reportedly caused the displacement of people from the southernmost province of Gaza towards Deir al Balah,” said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Earlier Friday, former Israeli prime minister and current war cabinet minister Benny Gantz said Israel “will not stop” until all hostages are returned, even if that means continuing hostilities during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. He added that Israel is preparing for a military incursion into Gaza and will act “in dialogue” with its partners, including Egypt, and “direct the population to protected areas.”
In a separate statement on Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told reporters that Israel had “no intention” of sending Palestinians to Egypt as part of an evacuation from Rafah, the focus of its next military offensive.
Gallant did not give details about a possible evacuation but said they are “carefully planning future operations in Rafah, which is a major Hamas stronghold.” Israeli officials have said the military is working on a detailed plan to evacuate civilians from Rafah ahead of a planned offensive there, but have not yet shared details.