The Israeli military announced on Monday potential plans for a significant military offensive in Rafah, a southern city in the Gaza Strip, and urged the evacuation of most of its inhabitants. Israel had ended its ceasefire with the Hamas group earlier this month, resuming its air and ground assault on the besieged territory. At that time, Israel halted all food, fuel, and medical supplies, among other humanitarian aid, to the approximately 2 million Palestinians living there, aiming to pressure Hamas into altering the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, nominated a new domestic security chief following his decision to fire the current one, a move interpreted by critics as politically motivated.
In Gaza, the United Nations expressed concerns over the constant forced relocations of people, with Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, estimating that at least 140,000 people in Rafah were directly impacted by the new evacuation orders. “The people of Gaza are being pushed from one place to another with military orders impacting their lives and causing panic, anxiety, and uncertainty,” he shared on social media, especially as the order came on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, a holiday meant for family and togetherness.
Fleeing in the face of potential Israeli military action, Palestinians left Rafah with whatever they could carry, their belongings piled onto vehicles and donkeys, or carried by hand as they walked. “We are dying here,” lamented Hanadi Dahoud, displaced from Khan Younis. “Food, water, electricity, and medicine are nonexistent. All we want is to live.” Evacuation directives extended from Rafah to neighboring areas, directing Palestinians to Muwasi, a collection of makeshift camps along the coast.
On another note, Tom Fletcher, the UN humanitarian chief, demanded “justice and answers” regarding the deaths of emergency responders by Israeli fire. Jonathan Whittall of the UN aid coordination agency detailed an incident wherein 15 humanitarian workers, including members from the Palestine Red Crescent Society and Palestine Civil Defense, were killed as they attempted to tend to the injured on March 23. These workers were clearly marked and wearing uniforms, yet they came under attack.
Israel’s military explained that its forces fired upon vehicles suspiciously moving without proper signals because they learned a Hamas operative and several militants were among those killed. It wasn’t until five days after the attack that access was granted to recover the bodies.
Back in Israel, the controversy surrounding Netanyahu has thickened as police summoned him for testimony in a probe examining connections between his office and Qatar, a Gulf state that acts as a mediator between Israel and Hamas. While Netanyahu is not currently a suspect, the investigation, under a government-imposed gag order, led to the arrest of two individuals, including Netanyahu’s aide, Jonatan Urich. The investigation examines allegations of Qatar orchestrating public relations campaigns through Netanyahu’s circle. Likud, the Prime Minister’s party, criticized the arrest, describing it as part of a political effort to unseat Netanyahu.
In Lebanon, security officials reported the arrest of suspects in connection with rocket attacks on Israel, launched from Lebanon’s southern region. On March 22 and 28, unidentified individuals fired rockets, prompting Israeli retaliation, marking the first such instance since a ceasefire with Hezbollah. While Hezbollah has denied involvement, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The repercussions of the conflict extend beyond borders, with a former Israeli hostage urging U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene. Yarden Bibas, who lost his family during his captivity in Gaza, asked Trump to facilitate an end to the conflict. As Israeli airstrikes pounded the subterranean locations where he was held, Bibas recalled the terrifying experience and called for peace to ensure hostages’ safe return.
The United Nations also released footage showing the recovery of bodies of first responders killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, drawing international attention and condemnation. In particular, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies labeled it as their deadliest attack since 2017. While Israel maintained its stance, asserting that those killed raised military suspicions, the UN continued to emphasize the humanitarian cost, noting the attacks occurred during an Israeli raid into Rafah.