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GAZA WAR

Palestinians flee Rafah, but ‘the risk remains the same everywhere’

Hundreds of thousands of people have already left the city after the first evacuation orders, under close military supervision and operations by the Israeli army.

Palestinians flee Rafah, but ‘the risk remains the same everywhere’

Palestinians loading their belongings to leave Rafah, May 13, 2024. (Credit: AFP)

“When talk of a cease-fire resurfaced, my sisters and I began packing, hoping to return soon to our home in northern Gaza,” said Raheel Shareef, a 27-year-old refugee residing in Rafah since last December.

“At that moment, we had no inkling that a new journey awaited us.”

While Hamas eventually announced on Monday, May 6, that it accepted the truce proposed by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, the Israeli army persisted in its military operations in the southern areas of the enclave. That morning on May 6, the Israeli army disseminated messages on social media and dropped leaflets, instructing the evacuation of the eastern part of the town.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are being directed to seek refuge in the “expanded humanitarian zone of al-Mawasi,” situated a bit further north along the coast, near Khan Younis.

A temporary solution

“We are fully aware of the risks associated with evacuation orders,” said Shareef, whose recent evacuation marked the sixth forced displacement since the onset of the war on Oct. 7. “We didn’t want to expose ourselves to danger, even though we don’t feel safe anywhere.”

Accompanied by her mother, six sisters and two brothers, the young woman hastily departed Rafah, carrying only essential documents and two changes of clothes per person, leaving behind personal belongings and provisions.

When Shareef left eastern Gaza City in October, where her husband and father remained, she had hoped for a temporary solution. She was unaware of the arduous journey that had awaited them, leading from al-Nasser to Rafah via the Boureij camp and Khan Younis.

More than seven months into the war, the family sleeps in a tent. Purchasing such a makeshift shelter, which costs over $1,000, was out of the question.

Nevertheless, two uncles already residing in al-Mawasi have made space to accommodate them. The largest tent now houses 15 people, while nine occupy the other.

“During the day, the heat is unbearable, and we’re sweating constantly,” said Shareef. “Despite the extreme temperatures inside the tent, we stay confined to it because it’s preferable to being outside, where the sun beats down relentlessly.”

Conversely, in this coastal area, nights are bitterly cold. “Even with at least two blankets per person, we still shiver throughout the night,” she said.

‘Where could we go?’

After fleeing to Deir al-Balah, another area deemed safe by Israel and located further north of al-Mawasi, Israa Hamed also lives in a tent.

At just three months old, her newborn son Ruchdi is already suffering from respiratory illnesses attributed to the fluctuating temperatures between day and night, poor hygiene conditions and the prevalence of diseases.

Hamed and her husband decided to leave Rafah even before receiving an official evacuation order. Before the baby’s arrival, their first child, they had been renting an apartment with her sisters and their families in the western part of the city, where access to water and a bathroom was available.

As the situation in Rafah deteriorated, with constant bombing, artillery fire and drones hovering overhead, fear gripped both children and adults alike.

“When a quadcopter flies over your house, you have to keep quiet,” explained the young mother. “But we couldn’t control the children and their movements, so we preferred to leave as soon as possible. We didn’t want to jeopardize the children’s lives.”

Meanwhile, Hala al-Zaharneh did not strictly adhere to Israeli directives calling on people to leave east of Rafah, opting instead to journey with her family toward al-Zawaydeh, located north of Deir el-Balah, to seek refuge with a friend.

“We were aware that the area wasn’t designated as safe by Israel, but where else could we go? The risk remains the same everywhere,” Zaharneh said.

Accompanied by her parents, siblings, her injured uncle and his son, the 26-year-old found herself sleeping on the street on the first night following the Israeli evacuation order.

“When the Israelis threatened to evacuate Rafah, we were uncertain of the timing to depart,” she explained, adding that she spent five months in the border town with Egypt, hoping that after enduring five forced displacements, she wouldn’t have to relocate again before returning home.

While awaiting the possibility of a return, the women in the family live at her friend’s residence and the men have erected a tent on the adjacent land to avoid inconveniencing anyone.

While Israel pledged access to humanitarian aid in the designated areas for evacuees, the Rafah crossing remains under its control, having been blocked since May 7.

“We haven’t received any aid since arriving in Deir al-Balah, no flour, nothing,” said Hamed. “Merchandise on sale has begun to vanish from the stalls, and prices have skyrocketed once more.”

Following this fifth relocation (the first for her baby), Hamed maintains hope that their next destination will be their home in Gaza, specifically in the al-Jalaa area.

This article was originally published in L'Orient-Le Jour. Translated by Sahar Ghoussoub.

“When talk of a cease-fire resurfaced, my sisters and I began packing, hoping to return soon to our home in northern Gaza,” said Raheel Shareef, a 27-year-old refugee residing in Rafah since last December.“At that moment, we had no inkling that a new journey awaited us.”While Hamas eventually announced on Monday, May 6, that it accepted the truce proposed by Egyptian and Qatari mediators,...