For over eight months, Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, offered a fragile refuge for more than 1.5 million Palestinians fleeing the devastating conflict and constant bombardments. The tenuous sanctuary was upended about two months ago when Israeli forces ramped up military operations in Rafah, leaving residents in a renewed state of fear. Israeli forces issued evacuation orders and intensified military activities, subsequently seizing control of the Rafah border crossing on 7 May. The closure has severed the essential goods and humanitarian aid lifeline, plunging the area into a dire humanitarian crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted in June the critical state of healthcare in Rafah, noting that Israeli forces had attacked and besieged medical facilities repeatedly during the eight-month conflict. The conflict’s exacerbation in Rafah forced more than 900,000 people to flee the city, joining approximately 300,000 original residents. The displaced, initially directed to “safe zones” in Rafah, now find themselves in makeshift shelters under deplorable conditions. The closure of the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s sole gateway to the outside world, has become a focal point of international tension. Egypt, which has traditionally managed the crossing from its side, remains in…
Gaza’s Lifeline Cut: Rafah Border Closure Sparks Humanitarian Emergency
July 6, 2024
