Israel invaded Rafah on May 6, 2024, initiating what it described as a “limited” operation against Hamas fighters. Two months later, the southern city has become a dust-covered ghost town. An Associated Press photojournalist was among the first foreign reporters permitted entry into Rafah, which has become a refuge for many of Gaza’s over two million displaced residents. Israel has restricted independent access for international journalists.
The war has proven deadly for media personnel, with more than 150 Palestinian journalists reported killed in Israeli attacks by July 2024, making it one of the most dangerous wars for journalists in recent history. The landscape in Rafah is marked by abandoned, bullet-ridden buildings, with walls blasted out and windows shattered. Very few civilians remain as military vehicles navigate through rubble-strewn roads.
Israel, criticized for its heavy-handed tactics, asserts that its goal is the complete defeat of Hamas. Since the escalation of hostilities on October 7, 2023, over 70 percent of Gaza’s homes have been destroyed.
Before the invasion, President Biden had stated that entering Rafah would cross a “red line” that could lead to the suspension of certain American weapon shipments. In late May, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) called for an immediate halt to military operations in Rafah, which has faced a humanitarian crisis due to restricted aid. However, Biden’s red line has been ignored, and the ICJ’s orders have gone unheeded by the international community. Still, according to the White House, Israel’s actions in Rafah do not amount to a “major ground operation” that could cross the formerly-set red line for President Joe Biden and trigger a possible change in US policy.
Casualty figures are staggering, with nearly 40,000 reported killed, half of whom are women and children by July. Rafah, covering about 65 square kilometers (25 square miles) and bordering Egypt, was previously considered a safe zone for those fleeing bombardments. Despite international concerns, Israel proceeded with the invasion, claiming that Hamas fighters had relocated to the area, though it provided no evidence to support this assertion. Throughout the nine-month war, Israel has consistently targeted designated safe zones.
Approximately 1.4 million Palestinians have crowded into Rafah after fleeing other parts of Gaza. The UN estimates that around 50,000 remain in Rafah, which had a pre-war population of about 275,000. Last week, the UN reported that the majority of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents are now displaced.
Sources: Al-Jazeera – CNN
