Israel has encouraged evacuations, relying on so-called safe areas around Rafah, which have been the target of several attacks in the past week. Dozens of people have been killed in displaced persons camps following several military attacks.
More of a million of people have escaped from the city of Gaza Rafa, in the south of the Gaza Strip since the Israeli army launched its military offensive in the area early this month, said Juliette Touma, spokesperson for the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Middle East. (UNRWA).
The agency reported more than 32,000 new displaced people in just two days this Thursday.
Israel has encouraged evacuations, which has appealed to some supposed safe zones in the vicinity of Rafa that one though have been the subject in this last week of different attacks. Dozens of people have been killed in displaced persons camps following several military attacks. The Israeli army today confirmed for the first time that it is operating in the center of Rafah.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began the 6 May this large-scale attack in Rafah, despite warnings from the UN and humanitarian organizations working on the ground. Before this attack, 1.4 million people gathered in Rafah, most of whom had been displaced from other parts of the Strip.
Since Israel began its operation in Rafah, the border crossing into Egypt, where much of the border passes, has disappeared humanitarian help Towards the south of the enclave it remains closed, while aid only passes sporadically via Kerem Shalom, also in the south. In addition, Israeli forces have continued their advance in what is known as the Philadelphia Corridor, the strip of land that runs along Gaza’s southern border.
The situation, along with the proximity to fighting and the shortage of supplies, is forced to close hospitals and clinicsAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), only part of the Emirati Maternity Hospital in the Tal al Sultan district in the south remains operational.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has made it clear that it will continue its operations in this area, ignoring the interim measures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) demanding the “immediate” halt to the offensive in Rafah.
Latest balance of victims
Health authorities in Gaza reported today that Israeli bombings have killed 60 people and injured 280 in the past 24 hours. Since October 7, Israel has killed 36,284 people, most of them children and womenand 82,057 were injured. It is also estimated that the bodies of up to 10,000 missing people are buried under the rubble.
In addition, since October 7, 519 people (including 130 minors) have been killed in military and settler attacks in the West Bank, and nearly 5,000 have been injured.
Since October 7, 1,139 Israelis have been killed by Hamas attacks, 8,700 have been injured and dozens of people remain missing in Hamas hands.
Israel withdraws from Jabaliah after leaving it devastated
The Israeli army today withdrew from the Jabalia area, in the north of the Gaza Strip, after ending its military operation in the city, which has been virtually destroyed.
Israeli forces resumed operations in that refugee camp, one of Hamas’ strongholds in Gaza, in early May after warning that the Islamist group’s militants were regrouping in the area.
WHO: “Children are hungry”
World Health Organisation (WHO) that was reported on Friday on the latest assessment of the nutritional situation in Gaza shows that children simply go hungry and the main reason is that humanitarian aid is not arriving for civilians on Palestinian territory.
The evaluation has confirmed that of the eight food groups that form the basis of a healthy diet, 95% of children between six and 23 months consume “two groups or less” and, even worse, 85% had not eaten at all at least once in the past three daysrevealed WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris.
The United Nations Humanitarian Coordination Office (OCHA) has confirmed that “very little” aid is flowing into Gaza and that amounts fall far short of what is desperately needed to stop the famine and prevent all the horrors.
“We insist again and again that Israel’s legal obligations (under international law) do not end at the border or a few meters from where aid is unloaded, and then left to humanitarian organizations to transport it through zones of active combat,” said OCHA spokesperson Jens. Laerke.
“To be clear: the aid is not reaching the people and this is serious. We need more help and of course we want all parties to meet their legal obligations… that is what they have to do,” he concluded.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
