Israeli Army Expands Ground Offensive in Rafah Amid Humanitarian Crisis
On Sunday, the Israeli Army intensified its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, specifically targeting the Tal Al Sultan region, adjacent to the Egyptian border. The army urged residents in this area to evacuate immediately, highlighting the risks posed by ongoing military actions against terrorist organizations. The Arabic spokesperson for the Israeli Army, Avichay Adraee, emphasized that Tal Al Sultan is now classified as a combat zone, stressing the necessity for residents to move to the safer Mawasi area, which the army designates as a humanitarian zone. He outlined permitted routes, notably the Gush Tayif street, while warning that vehicle movement in other areas is prohibited.
Eyewitness accounts confirm the escalation, with Israeli tanks reportedly seizing control of the Abu Ataya hill in Rafah and engaging in extensive shelling, forcing many residents to flee. In a troubling development, the Red Crescent reported that multiple ambulances attempting to assist injured individuals in the Hashashin area were obstructed by Israeli forces, resulting in injuries among paramedics and loss of contact with trapped team members.
This surge in military activity follows the recent resumption of hostilities after a ceasefire was broken on the morning of Tuesday, leading to substantial civilian casualties and displacing over 125,000 people, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). The current offensive, reportedly launched on Wednesday, has involved multiple points of attack along the Gaza border, with Rafah becoming a refuge for nearly two million Palestinians displaced from the northern and central sectors of the enclave since the Israeli operation commenced after Hamas's initial attack on October 7, 2023.
Rafah, which witnessed one of the most severe Israeli offensives in May of last year, is now once again engulfed in conflict, putting immense pressure on humanitarian resources. The situation remains dire, with many displaced individuals crammed into the already overcrowded Mawasi area, living in tents amidst ongoing military operations. This has been compounded by Israel’s earlier occupation of the strategic Philadelphia corridor, the demarcation line between Gaza and Egypt, which was crucial for aid and mobility but was disrupted as part of the military strategy.
As the conflict escalates, international humanitarian organizations continue to call for urgent action to ensure the safety and welfare of civilians caught in the crossfire, as the humanitarian crisis deepens in the region.
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