GAZA CITY. Nearly half a million Palestinians have been displaced due to intensified Israeli military operations in southern and northern Gaza, according to the United Nations. This massive displacement marks a significant humanitarian crisis in the region.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that around 360,000 Palestinians were forced to flee from Rafah in Gaza’s south over the past week. Before the recent offensive, approximately 1.3 million people had been taking shelter in Rafah, which Israel claims is a last Hamas stronghold.
In northern Gaza, Israeli forces continue their battles with Hamas militants. Major operations in this area have also led to significant displacement. U.N. Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq informed reporters that evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army on Saturday have displaced an additional 100,000 people so far.
Adding to the dire situation, no food supplies have entered the two main border crossings in southern Gaza for the past week. The U.N. has warned that approximately 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza are facing severe hunger, with the northern region experiencing what the U.N. describes as a “full-blown famine.”
The humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by seven months of continuous Israeli bombardment and ground operations in Gaza, resulting in over 35,000 deaths, predominantly women and children, according to local health officials.
The conflict escalated dramatically on October 7, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250 others. Israel states that militants still hold approximately 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.
Israeli Tanks Advance in Rafah
On Tuesday, Israeli tanks advanced deeper into eastern Rafah, reaching residential districts. This movement has prompted renewed warnings from international allies and aid groups about the potential for a humanitarian disaster.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to hold hearings on Thursday and Friday to discuss a request by South Africa for new emergency measures regarding the Rafah incursion. South Africa has accused Israel of violating the genocide convention in Gaza, a claim Israel denies, calling it baseless.
Despite lacking international support, Israel has vowed to continue its operations in Rafah, aiming to eliminate four remaining Hamas battalions. “The tanks advanced this morning west of Salahuddin Road into the Brzail and Jneina neighborhoods. They are in the streets inside the built-up area, and there are clashes,” a resident told Reuters via a chat app.
Hamas’s armed wing reported destroying an Israeli troop carrier with an Al-Yassin 105 missile in the eastern Al-Salam neighborhood, resulting in casualties. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not comment on this report.
Humanitarian Conditions Deteriorate
UNRWA estimates that around 450,000 people have fled Rafah since May 6. “People face constant exhaustion, hunger, and fear. Nowhere is safe,” the agency posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The war has devastated Gaza’s medical facilities, with hospitals running short of fuel for generators and other essential supplies. British emergency room doctor James Smith, volunteering in southern Gaza, noted that while some emergency fuel has reached Gaza, it is a “zero-sum game” where health is prioritized over other essential services.
Intensifying Battles
Fighting has intensified across Gaza, particularly in the north. In the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, bulldozers have demolished houses to create a path for tanks. In Jabalia, a refugee camp, residents reported heavy tank shelling as Israeli forces attempted to penetrate the camp’s market area.
The IDF stated that dozens of Hamas fighters were killed in Jabalia, and in Zeitoun, they dismantled explosives and destroyed rocket launchers. Amid the escalating violence, ceasefire talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt remain at a standstill, with both sides unable to agree on terms to end the conflict.
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the international community watches closely, urging both sides to prioritize humanitarian concerns and seek a peaceful resolution.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
