Palestinians Flock to Rafah Amid Israel’s Intensified Military Campaign in Central Gaza

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee to Rafah, located at the southern tip of Gaza, as reported by the United Nations. This mass displacement has been prompted by the intensification of Israel’s military campaign in central Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of dozens.

Israel’s aggressive air and ground operation against Hamas has led to the displacement of approximately 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants. These displaced individuals are seeking refuge in areas designated as safe by the Israeli military, which have nonetheless been subjected to bombings. This has created a pervasive fear among Palestinians that no location in Gaza is safe.

The focus of Israel’s military campaign has shifted to densely populated central Gaza, where Israeli forces have been targeting urban refugee camps like Bureij, Nuseirat, and Maghazi. These strikes have caused significant destruction, flattening buildings and causing casualties among residents.

Despite the heavy concentration of fighting in the north, where Hamas continues to resist Israeli forces, the conflict has spread to other regions, including Khan Younis in the south, where it is believed Hamas leaders are in hiding.

The conflict has resulted in over 21,300 Palestinian deaths and a humanitarian crisis, leaving a quarter of Gaza’s population facing starvation.

Israel’s objective is to dismantle Hamas and rescue over 100 hostages held by the militant group since their attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the death of about 1,200 people, predominantly civilians.

Despite international calls for a ceasefire, Israeli officials have remained steadfast, asserting that a ceasefire would effectively be a victory for Hamas.

The U.N. reported a significant influx of around 100,000 people into Rafah, further straining the already densely populated area. Israel has directed residents of central Gaza to evacuate towards Rafah and Deir al-Balah, but these areas have not been spared from Israeli attacks.

One such strike on Thursday evening in Rafah resulted in the destruction of a residential building and the death of