Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip has reached Rafah, the southernmost city in the Strip. However, the city is now populated by 1.5 million civilians, who have been displaced multiple times and are in desperate need of aid. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has ordered his military to develop an evacuation plan, but details are still unclear. Israel is relying on the cooperation of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to assist in the evacuation, but their relationship has deteriorated, and Israel has called for the agency’s disbandment. The prospects for successful cooperation seem unlikely, and there is no destination within Gaza that can accommodate such a large number of evacuees. With escalating tensions and the start of Ramadan approaching, the timeline for a land assault on Rafah remains uncertain. Israel will need to carefully navigate these challenges to ensure the safe evacuation of civilians and minimize the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Israel faces challenges in evacuating civilians from Rafah as military campaign reaches the city
