Rafah Under Fire: The Desperate Cry for Sanctuary

19-02-2024

Naira ElTonsy

Middle East and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

Rafah, previously designated a “safe zone” by Israeli authorities, bore witness to a harrowing night of violence last Monday, with bombs ravaging the city and resulting in the tragic loss of at least 100 lives. [1] Palestinian accounts characterize the bombs employed as a ‘fire belt’, given their relentless and prolonged nature. [2] Yet again, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu sought to rationalise the airstrikes by citing the imperative of rescuing two Israeli hostages at the expense of nearly 1.3 million Palestinians seeking refuge. [3]

The director of Abu Youssef Al-Najjar Hospital expressed grave concern, stating that the medical infrastructure in Rafah is overwhelmed and unable to adequately address the substantial volume of injuries resulting from the bombardment of Israeli forces. [4] CNN footage depicted scenes of tumult within Rafah’s Al Kuwaiti Hospital, capturing medics engaged in resuscitative efforts for an immobile child, while another video showed doctors administering treatment to an injured man on the hospital floor. [5] Additionally, a separate video depicted a woman in profound distress as she cradled the lifeless body of a child in swathed white cloth. [6] 

Prior to the attack, Netanyahu issued directives for the military to formulate an evacuation strategy for Rafah in anticipation of a potential ground offensive. [7] He contends that Rafah stands as Hamas’s final stronghold in Gaza, asserting that “those who say that under no circumstances should we enter Rafah are basically saying, lose the war, keep Hamas there.” [8] Furthermore, General Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, threatened that “If by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue into the Rafah area.” [9]

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns that half of Gaza’s population, almost 1.2 million Palestinians, is “now crammed into Rafah with nowhere to go” with “no homes” and “no hope”. [10] Satellite imagery obtained by Al Jazeera reveals an area already strained to its limits, in which each of Rafah’s 64 square kilometres is accommodating approximately 22,000 individuals, rendering it one of the most densely populated regions and overcrowded territories globally. [11] The dire overcrowding has led to the proliferation of diseases, with health authorities reporting an outbreak of hepatitis A, a condition exacerbated by close proximity. [12] Given the impossibility of isolating patients effectively, there is scant optimism for containing this outbreak or other diseases, worsened by inadequate access to hygiene facilities such as showers and clean toilets. [13] 

Rafah was designated as a supposed safe zone for Palestinians, much like numerous other locations to which Palestinians have been displaced since October 7, 2023. However, Palestinians have endured deplorable conditions and harrowing experiences, now finding themselves crowded into Rafah, trapped, with no viable alternatives. Israel has issued ultimatums, threatening to persist in its assaults by March 10, coinciding with the commencement of Ramadan. Yet, the question remains: where should the Palestinian people seek refuge? This coercive tactic appears to constitute the final endeavour by Israel to ethnically cleanse the Palestinian populace from Gaza, necessitating urgent attention from the international community. 

Sources and Further Reading

[1] Aseel Mousa & Alice Speri, The Intercept_, (2024, February 13), ‘“Where Can We Go?”: Terror and Panic Sets In As Israel Readies To Invade Rafah’ <"WHERE CAN WE GO?": TERROR AND PANIC SET IN AS ISRAEL READIES TO INVADE RAFAH | THE INTERCEPT_> accessed 19 February 2024.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Helen Regan & Abeer Salman, CNN World, (2024, February 12), ‘Israeli airstrikes kill more than 100 in Rafah as international alarm mounts over anticipated ground offensive’ <Israeli airstrikes kill more than 100 in Rafah as international alarm mounts over anticipated ground offensive> accessed 19 February 2024. 

[5] Ibid. 

[6] Ibid. 

[7] D. Parvaz & Anas Baba, npr, (2024, February 14), Rafah was supposed to offer refuge. Now, the city waits for a possible Israeli attack’ <Rafah was supposed to offer refuge. Now, the city waits for a possible Israeli attack> accessed 19 February 2024.  

[8] Ibid.

[9] Sky News, (2024, February 19), ‘Middle East latest: Rafah offensive to begin if hostages ‘not home by Ramadan’; world leader accused of serious antisemitic attack’ <Middle East latest: Rafah offensive to begin if hostages 'not home by Ramadan'; world leader accused of 'serious antisemitic attack'> accessed 19 February 2024. 

 [10] Linah Alsaafin & Usaid Siddiqui, AlJazeera, (2024, February 10), ‘Israel’s war on Gaza updates: ‘No homes, no hope’ in Rafah - UN chief’ <Israel’s war on Gaza updates: ‘No homes, no hope’ in Rafah - UN chief | AlJazeera> accessed 19 February 2024.

 [11] AlJazeera, (2024, February 11), ‘What’s happening in Gaza’s Rafah as Israel threatens to attack?’ <What’s happening in Gaza’s Rafah as Israel threatens to attack? | AlJazeera> accessed 19 February 2024. 

[12] Ibid.

[13] Ibid.