Israeli airstrikes resulted in the death of 17 individuals in Gaza’s Rafah overnight, according to medics on Saturday. Over a million Palestinians in the densely populated border city are bracing for a potential full-scale offensive, as the rest of the enclave lies in ruins with no safe havens left.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has directed the military to devise a plan to evacuate Rafah’s population and eliminate four alleged Hamas battalions stationed there.
In contrast to previous conflicts, there is no relatively untouched area in the small Gaza Strip where civilians can seek refuge. Humanitarian agencies have expressed concerns over potential large-scale civilian casualties.
As the conflict, which began on October 7, has unfolded, Gaza has witnessed extensive destruction, leaving more than 85% of its 2.3 million residents homeless.
Ceasefire talks having failed, Netanyahu declared a commitment to fight until “total victory,” including in Rafah. Recent airstrikes in Rafah resulted in casualties, intensifying the humanitarian crisis. In Khan Younis, another southern city in Gaza, where displaced people sought refuge, the Palestinian Health Ministry raised alarms about Israeli operations around Nasser Hospital.
The ministry reported that Israeli forces surrounded the hospital, shot in the vicinity, and expressed concerns for the safety of medical staff, patients, and thousands seeking shelter there.
Footage circulating on social media, though unverified, showed tanks at the gates of Nasser Hospital. Israel’s military confirmed “intensive” operations in Khan Younis and other parts of Gaza, citing actions against fighters, weapon seizures, and infrastructure strikes.
As the situation unfolds, there has been no immediate response from Israel’s military regarding the circumstances at Nasser Hospital.
Fears over mass displacement in Gaza
Reports from Gaza City, the initial focal point of Israel’s recent military operation since late October, indicate intense clashes on Saturday as ground forces advanced. An unnamed Israeli official mentioned plans to relocate residents of Rafah northward before a potential assault.
Egypt has asserted its refusal to permit a mass influx of displaced Palestinians into its territory. Concerns persist among Palestinians that Israel aims to forcibly expel them from their homeland, precluding any possibility of return.
Israeli intentions to move people from Rafah face challenges due to ongoing conflict in Gaza City, even after Israel claimed to redeploy some troops elsewhere. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry cautioned against escalating tensions in Rafah, citing the limited space and the heightened risks for Palestinians.
In the midst of continued hostilities, rescue workers in Gaza City discovered the bodies of a 6-year-old girl, her family, and the ambulance team attempting to rescue them. Basic aid delivery to Palestinians near Rafah remains challenging, with many confined to makeshift tents along the border with Egypt.
The United Nations emphasized the need to protect civilians in Rafah but opposed any forced mass displacement, highlighting its prohibition under international law.
Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office asserted that eliminating Hamas is unattainable while retaining troops in Rafah. The Palestinian Presidency condemned Netanyahu’s plans, viewing them as an attempt to displace the Palestinian people, posing threats to regional and global security. Mahmoud Abbas’s office warned that such actions cross “all red lines.”
