Israel continues attacks across Gaza and orders evacuation in Rafah

Humanitarian crisis grows

Journalists, doctors and witnesses reported Israeli attacks across Gaza, where the United Nations said humanitarian aid had been blocked, after the Israeli army defied international opposition and advanced into eastern Rafah this week.

An Israeli attack on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. Photo: AFP

At least 21 people were killed in attacks in central Gaza and taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital in the city of Deir al-Balah, according to a hospital statement.

In Rafah, witnesses reported heavy air strikes near the border crossing with Egypt and AFP images showed smoke rising over the city. Other attacks also occurred in northern Gaza.

Hamas accused Israel on Saturday of “widening its attack on Rafah”. The Israeli army on Tuesday seized and closed the crossing between Egypt and Rafah – the only way fuel can enter Gaza.

As talks on a ceasefire and hostage release stalled, Hamas said a hostage seen in a video the group released earlier on Saturday had died in an Israeli attack. US President Joe Biden said on Saturday that a ceasefire would be reached “by tomorrow” if Hamas released the hostages.

The new evacuation order for eastern Rafah said the designated areas had “seen Hamas terrorist activities in recent days and weeks”. Army spokesman Daniel Hagari later said “we have killed dozens of terrorists in eastern Rafah”.

"We have nowhere else to go"

Israel said on Saturday that 300,000 people had fled Rafah since the initial evacuation order. Scores of Palestinian civilians loaded up trucks with water, mattresses and other belongings and prepared to evacuate again.

“We don’t know where to go… There is no place left in Gaza that is safe or not too crowded… We have nowhere to go,” said Farid Abu Eida, who was preparing to leave Rafah, having evacuated there from Gaza City.

Journalists also began dismantling tents and packing up equipment to leave the city. "Where to go?... This is the question Palestinians are asking, what next?", said journalist Nabil Diab.

Saturday’s evacuation order requires residents to head to the “humanitarian zone” of Al-Mawasi, on the coast northwest of Rafah. That area has “extremely limited access to clean drinking water, toilets” and other basic services, said Sylvain Groulx, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Gaza.

The head of the European Union, Charles Michel, said on social media that Rafah civilians were being ordered to “unsafe areas” and denounced it as “unacceptable”.

Huy Hoang (according to AFP, Reuters, CNA)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/the-gioi-lo-lang-khi-israel-tiep-tuc-tan-cong-khap-gaza-va-ra-lenh-so-tan-o-rafah-post295117.html