UN says 80,000 have fled Rafah as strikes intensify
The United Nations says more than 80,000 people in Rafah have fled the southern city since Monday as Israeli tanks move in amid constant bombardment.
Israel’s military has said its ground forces are conducting “targeted activity” in eastern Rafah. Palestinian armed groups said they were targeting Israeli troops to the east.
The UN also warned that food and fuel are running out because it was not getting aid through nearby crossings.
Israeli tanks rolled up on the Rafah crossing with Egypt and now control the Gaza side of the crossing, they decided to close the crossing – a vital aid route.
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The UN says it’s too dangerous for its staff and lorries to reach the reopened Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel.
It came as Israel’s PM rejected the US threat to stop supplying some weapons if it launched a major assault on “population centres” in Rafah. PM Netanyahu says Israel can and will stand alone if it has to.
Israel says victory in the war isn’t possible unless they take the city of Rafah and eliminate the last remaining Hamas battalions.
However the UN and the Western powers are worried that a full-scale invasion could lead to mass civilian casualties and a humanitarian catastrophe.
More than 1 million people are sheltering in Rafah. Many refugees have already fled their homes from other parts of Gaza and were told to head to the southern city. Now they are being displaced again – with nowhere to go.
@coreylewisteague More than 80,000 people have fled the southern Gaza city of Rafah since Monday, the UN says, as Israeli tanks reportedly mass close to built-up areas amid constant bombardment. #gaza #freepalestine🇵🇸❤️ #alleyesonrafah #trending #foryou