Displaced Palestinians are fleeing Rafah, fearing an Israeli ground offensive is imminent, and Deir Al Balah in the central Gaza Strip is now crowded with people. Many say they're already struggling to find a place to set up camp.

Sderot

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is 'at war' following a surprise attack from Gaza by Hamas militants.

Israel-Gaza War

As Israeli forces gather on the outskirts of Rafah, Palestinians are fleeing the area in fear of an imminent Israeli ground offensive. Many have sought refuge in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, which is now overcrowded with those displaced in recent days. Amani El-Fayoumi, among the displaced, reports that her family has been without shelter, sleeping in the cold and unable to find a location to set up a tent.

The situation is dire, with displaced individuals struggling to access the essentials for survival. Sumaya Shaaban, alongside her children, has been stationed by the road for three days, suffering from a lack of basic needs such as food, clean water, and sanitation facilities. Shaaban notes the severe scarcity of aid and support for those affected.

The recent seizure of the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing by Israeli tanks has exacerbated the crisis. This action has not only cut off a critical aid route but also prompted at least 80,000 people to flee Rafah this week, according to the United Nations. With Israeli strikes on Rafah intensifying, residents fear a full-scale invasion is forthcoming, placing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in even greater peril.

Families, such as the al-Khafana family, have been uprooted multiple times due to the ongoing conflict. Now fleeing from Rafah to the al-Mawassi area of Khan Younis, they, like many others, are in search of safety. Leila al-Khafana exclaims the heartbreak of having her children born in the throes of war, underscoring the innocence of the displaced young ones caught in the conflict.

The basis for the Israeli military's actions in Rafah is to combat Hamas fighters allegedly based there. However, the United Nations, residents of Gaza, and aid organizations express profound concern that an Israeli invasion of Rafah would precipitate a humanitarian catastrophe, affecting countless civilians.



Palestinians fleeing Rafah say there's no place to go

As Israeli forces mass on the outskirts of Rafah, fleeing Palestinians say they're already struggling to find a place to stay. Deir el-Balah in central Gaza is crammed with people who have fled in recent days. Amani El-Fayoumi is among those who can't find anywhere to set up camp. We have been sleeping in the cold for four days, and there is no place to set up our tent. Where will all the displaced people go? Sumaya Shaaban and her children have been sat by the road for three days. What little aid there is doesn't reach them. We are without life's necessities. We take water from the sea for our children. There are no bathrooms. There is no food. There is no site supporting us. Israeli tanks seized the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Tuesday, cutting off a vital aid route and forcing at least 80,000 people to flee the southern city this week, according to the United Nations. That could be just the beginning. Residents fear Israeli strikes on Rafah, the biggest urban area in Gaza not yet overrun by Israeli ground forces, are a sign an invasion is imminent. The city is a refuge for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who fled combat further north. Like many Gazans, the al-Khafana family have been displaced several times during the conflict and are now on the move again, this time from Rafah to the al-Mawassi area of Khan Younis, where they've been told once again they'll be safe. Leila al-Khafana. We keep moving from one place to another. This child was born during the war. What did he do wrong? He was born in Rafah. There are no clothes. What did these children do wrong? What can we say? Israel says it must hit Rafah to defeat thousands of Hamas fighters it says are holed up there. The United Nations, Gaza residents and aid groups say an Israeli invasion of the city will result in a humanitarian catastrophe.

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I.C.C. prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Netanyahu

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Tehran

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Council of the City of Sydney

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Ukraine Invasion

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Israel-Gaza War