THE NEW ARAB
As Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid al-Fitr, residents of Rafah in southern Gaza face intensified hardships due to Israeli airstrikes and evacuation orders. The Israeli military has issued evacuation directives for all areas of Rafah, affecting over 50,000 people. Avichai Adraee, an Israeli army spokesman, stated, “All residents of al-Nasr, al-Shawka, al-Salam, al-Manara, and Qizan al-Najjar must evacuate immediately and head to al-Mawasi.” However, al-Mawasi is already overcrowded with displaced families and offers little safety.
The ongoing conflict has led to significant civilian casualties and displacement. The United Nations and other aid organizations have condemned attacks on emergency workers, describing them as the deadliest in years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed plans to take over Gaza’s security and support a controversial resettlement plan, which has been rejected by Palestinians and labeled as likely illegal by human rights experts.