Gaza: 80,000 displaced from Rafah as Israeli bombardment intensifies, UN aid groups say
Most of those displaced by the Israeli military’s evacuation order east of Rafah have been relocated from other areas of Gaza; now they are leaving with all they can carry “in cars, trucks, (on) motorbikes and donkey carts”According to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
UNRWA said an estimated more than 47,500 people fled their shelters in Rafah on Wednesday alone, with some families arriving at the agency’s shelter in Tel Sultan, as well as Al Mawasi in the west .
Bombs everywhere
In an update, UNRWA noted “an ongoing and significant amount of shelling” east of Rafah early Thursday morning “and throughout the night.”
The development comes as United Nations humanitarian agencies repeatedly warn of a lack of much-needed aid for the very vulnerable people in Gaza, despite reports that the Kerem Shalom border crossing near Rafah has reopened.
The UN aid coordination office said: “We are engaging with all those involved in resuming imports of goods, including fuel, and so that we can begin to manage manage incoming supplies again.” OCHA late Wednesday. “However, the situation remains very complex and we continue to face a series of challenges against a backdrop of active hostility. We believe in cooperation and creating favorable conditions to bring these intersections back to life since Stockpiles of vital supplies, including fuel, are depleting by the hour.”
The Kerem Shalom intersection was closed following a deadly rocket attack claimed by Hamas last weekend. It lies next to Rafah, the main entry point for aid into Gaza, and was seized by Israeli forces on Tuesday, dashing hopes of a ceasefire.
Northern aid delays
According to OCHAmore than a quarter of humanitarian missions to northern Gaza in April “were hindered by Israeli authorities and 10% were turned away… The United Nations and humanitarian partners continue efforts to scale up operations aid whenever and wherever possible.”
On Wednesday, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) reported that it had reached Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza “which had been inaccessible for months”.
In a message on X, the agency said it was ready to scale up food assistance across northern Gaza, “but averting six months of famine requires a steady supply of food. Safe, long-term access needs to be maintained over time.”
Violence in the West Bank is unabated
As the war continues in Gaza, the United Nations human rights office, OHCHRwarned that violations against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank had also increased significantly.
Ajith Sunghay, head of the OHCHR office in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, said in an interview with UN News: “The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are acting as if there is an armed conflict in West Coast”.
Mr. Sunghay explained that the situation in the West Bank was already dire even before conflict broke out in Gaza following Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel that left about 1,250 people dead and more than 250 arrested. hostage.
You can listen to UN News’ full interview with OHCHR’s Ajith Sunghay This.
In its latest update on the situation in the West Bank, UN aid office OCHA noted that the Israeli Supreme Court ruled in favor of returning 360 Palestinians to their homes in pastoral communities. raising Khirbet Zanouta in Hebron, six months after being displaced by settler attacks.
