The evacuation of Palestinians from the remaining stronghold in Gaza gained momentum on Sunday, as Israeli forces advanced further into the southern city of Rafah. In addition, Israel launched intensive attacks on the northern parts of the territory, where some Hamas militants have regathered in areas that were previously declared cleared by the military.
Rafah, known as Hamas’ final stronghold, has witnessed a significant exodus of its population. Out of the over 1 million civilians seeking refuge in the city, around 300,000 have fled in response to evacuation directives issued by Israel. The Israeli government justifies its impending invasion of Rafah as a necessary measure to dismantle Hamas and retrieve the numerous hostages seized during the October 7 assault, which served as the catalyst for the ongoing conflict.
Egypt has expressed its strongest objection to the Rafah offensive, stating that it will officially support South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice, which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel, however, rejects these allegations. The Egyptian foreign ministry released a statement highlighting the increasing severity and extent of the Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians.
According to a statement from the United Nations human rights chief, Volker Turk, it is difficult to reconcile a full-scale invasion of Rafah with international humanitarian law.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed his opposition to a significant military attack on Rafah and emphasized the need for Israel to have a clear exit strategy from Gaza and a plan for post-war governance. In an interview with CBS, Blinken warned that without these measures, Israel would be left to deal with a persistent insurgency.
Gaza is currently experiencing a lack of effective governance, resulting in a deterioration of public order and enabling the reconstitution of Hamas’ armed wing, even in the areas most affected by the ongoing crisis. Recent reports indicate that Hamas has claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Israeli soldiers in Rafah and near Gaza City.
Israel has not yet presented a comprehensive plan for the governance of Gaza after the war. However, they have stated that they will retain indefinite security control over the region, which is home to approximately 2.3 million Palestinians.
Negotiations aimed at achieving a cease-fire and securing the release of hostages through international mediation seemed to have reached a stalemate.
In a moving Memorial Day speech, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to persevere in the fight until victory, as a tribute to the fallen soldiers. However, in Tel Aviv, a crowd of protesters gathered outside military headquarters, holding candles and calling for an immediate cease-fire agreement to secure the safe return of the hostages.
Netanyahu has dismissed the postwar plans suggested by the United States for the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza with support from Arab and Muslim countries. These plans rely on the advancement towards the establishment of a Palestinian state, an idea that the Israeli government opposes.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s offensive has resulted in the deaths of more than 35,000 Palestinians, with the majority being women and children. It is important to note that the ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its figures. Israel, on the other hand, claims to have killed over 13,000 militants, but has not provided any evidence to support this claim.
The North Experiences Intense Bombardment
Overnight, Palestinians in the urban Jabaliya refugee camp and other areas in northern Gaza experienced intense bombardment by Israeli forces. The region has been under heavy isolation for months, leading to dire conditions. According to U.N. officials, the situation has escalated to a state of “full-blown famine.”
Israeli warplanes and artillery carried out airstrikes on the Zeitoun area east of Gaza City, according to residents. This region has been a site of ongoing clashes between Israeli troops and militants for more than a week. In response, authorities have urged tens of thousands of individuals to evacuate to safer nearby locations.
Abdel-Kareem Radwan, a 48-year-old resident of Jabaliya, described the night as incredibly challenging. He expressed how they were subjected to relentless and powerful bombings since midday Saturday. Overwhelmed by the situation, he exclaimed, “This is sheer madness.”
The Palestinian Civil Defense’s first responders stated that they faced difficulties in addressing the numerous distress calls from both regions, including Rafah.
At the Al Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah, the staff reported that four people were killed in an Israeli strike in central Gaza.
Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari confirmed that operations were also being carried out in the northern towns of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, both of which had experienced heavy bombing during the initial days of the war.
According to Hamas’ military wing, they launched an attack on Israeli special forces near Jabaliya and targeted troops and vehicles entering the Rafah border crossing area by firing mortar shells.
In Israel’s Maariv daily, columnist Ben Caspit expressed the prevailing frustration among many Israelis over the inability to overthrow Hamas’ regime without a viable alternative in place. Caspit emphasized that the responsibility of governing Gaza after the war lies with the Gazans themselves, with substantial support and assistance from external sources.
Civilians Escape as Conflict Escalates in the South
The city of Rafah was a safe haven for 1.3 million Palestinians who had sought refuge from the violence in other areas. However, the eastern third of the city has now been cleared by Israel.
Most people are flocking to the heavily damaged nearby city of Khan Younis or Muwasi, a coastal tent camp where already resides a staggering 450,000 people in deplorable conditions.
The United Nations has issued a warning, expressing concerns that an imminent full-scale invasion would severely hamper ongoing humanitarian efforts and lead to a significant increase in civilian casualties. This potential invasion is already impacting the main aid entry points near Rafah. In fact, Israeli forces have already taken control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing, resulting in its closure.
According to a senior Egyptian official, Cairo has expressed its concerns to Israel, the United States, and European governments regarding the offensive. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the offensive has placed Egypt’s long-standing peace treaty with Israel, which is crucial for regional stability, in jeopardy.
U.S. President Joe Biden has made it clear that he will not supply Israel with offensive weapons for Rafah. His administration acknowledges that there is “reasonable” evidence suggesting that Israel may have violated international laws safeguarding civilians.
Israel denies these allegations and asserts that it actively seeks to prevent harm to civilians. It holds Hamas responsible for the significant number of civilian casualties due to their tactic of fighting in densely populated residential areas.
In Balata refugee camp in Nablus, the West Bank, a man was killed by Israeli forces, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The army claimed that its forces retaliated with live fire after being fired upon by militants in the camp. The violence in the region has escalated since the start of the war.
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