Israel-Palestine Escalation
Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.

Palestinian Civilians Flee Rafah Due to Israeli Military Operation

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Last Monday, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) launched what it called a "limited" counter-terrorism operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip to eliminate the Hamas movement. The IDF also took control of the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, which was the only window for humanitarian aid to enter the besieged enclave.
Palestinian civilians continue to flee the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and seek shelter in Deir el-Balah in the central part of the Palestinian territory amid the ongoing Israeli military assault on the overpopulated city.
On Friday, the Jewish state announced the expansion of the operation in Rafah, where more than one million Palestinian refugees are sheltering after being displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media reports.
The Israeli operation in Rafah has faced strong global criticism, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning that Israel's military assault on Rafah would lead to an "unthinkable escalation" of the conflict and result in the deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians.
Nearly 35,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October 2023.
As the operation in Rafah continues, Sputnik Africa has compiled a photo gallery of the situation that faces displaced Palestinians in Rafah.
© AFP 2023

Palestinian who fled Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip ride with their belongings in the back of a truck, as they arrive to take shelter in Deir el-Balah in the central part of the Palestinian territory on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

Palestinian who fled Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip ride with their belongings in the back of a truck, as they arrive to take shelter in Deir el-Balah in the central part of the Palestinian territory on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group. - Sputnik Africa
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Palestinian who fled Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip ride with their belongings in the back of a truck, as they arrive to take shelter in Deir el-Balah in the central part of the Palestinian territory on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

© AFP 2023

Tents are set up along the beach in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip by Palestinians who fled Rafah in the southern part of the Palestinian territory on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

Tents are set up along the beach in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip by Palestinians who fled Rafah in the southern part of the Palestinian territory on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group. - Sputnik Africa
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Tents are set up along the beach in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip by Palestinians who fled Rafah in the southern part of the Palestinian territory on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

© AFP 2023

A woman reacts as she wait with others before evacuating from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 11, 2024 amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas.

A woman reacts as she wait with others before evacuating from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 11, 2024 amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas. - Sputnik Africa
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A woman reacts as she wait with others before evacuating from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 11, 2024 amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas.

© AFP 2023

Palestinians load water containers on the back of a truck as people flee Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip to a safer location on May 11, 2023, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. Israeli strikes hit Gaza on May 11 after renewed US criticism over its conduct of the war and a UN warning of "epic" disaster if an outright invasion of crowded Rafah city occurs.

Palestinians load water containers on the back of a truck as people flee Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip to a safer location on May 11, 2023, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. Israeli strikes hit Gaza on May 11 after renewed US criticism over its conduct of the war and a UN warning of "epic" disaster if an outright invasion of crowded Rafah city occurs.  - Sputnik Africa
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Palestinians load water containers on the back of a truck as people flee Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip to a safer location on May 11, 2023, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. Israeli strikes hit Gaza on May 11 after renewed US criticism over its conduct of the war and a UN warning of "epic" disaster if an outright invasion of crowded Rafah city occurs.

© AFP 2023

Palestinian transport their belongings as they flee Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip toward a safer area on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

Palestinian transport their belongings as they flee Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip toward a safer area on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group. - Sputnik Africa
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Palestinian transport their belongings as they flee Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip toward a safer area on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

© AFP 2023

A woman and boy walk with belongings past barbed-wire fences as they flee from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 11, 2024 amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas.

A woman and boy walk with belongings past barbed-wire fences as they flee from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 11, 2024 amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas. - Sputnik Africa
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A woman and boy walk with belongings past barbed-wire fences as they flee from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 11, 2024 amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas.

© AFP 2023

Tents are set up along a street in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip by Palestinians who fled Rafah in the southern part of the Palestinian territory on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

Tents are set up along a street in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip by Palestinians who fled Rafah in the southern part of the Palestinian territory on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group. - Sputnik Africa
7/11

Tents are set up along a street in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip by Palestinians who fled Rafah in the southern part of the Palestinian territory on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

© AFP 2023

Palestinian who fled Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip ride with their belongings in the back of a truck, as they arrive to take shelter in Deir el-Balah in the central part of the Palestinian territory on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

Palestinian who fled Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip ride with their belongings in the back of a truck, as they arrive to take shelter in Deir el-Balah in the central part of the Palestinian territory on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group. - Sputnik Africa
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Palestinian who fled Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip ride with their belongings in the back of a truck, as they arrive to take shelter in Deir el-Balah in the central part of the Palestinian territory on May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

© AP Photo / Abdel Kareem Hana

Palestinians displaced by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip arrive at a makeshift tent camp west of Rafah, Gaza, Friday, May 10, 2024.

Palestinians displaced by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip arrive at a makeshift tent camp west of Rafah, Gaza, Friday, May 10, 2024.  - Sputnik Africa
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Palestinians displaced by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip arrive at a makeshift tent camp west of Rafah, Gaza, Friday, May 10, 2024.

© AP Photo / Abdel Kareem Hana

Displaced Palestinians arrive in central Gaza after fleeing from the southern Gaza city of Rafah in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. The Israeli army has ordered tens of thousands of people to evacuate Rafah as it conducts a ground operation there.

Displaced Palestinians arrive in central Gaza after fleeing from the southern Gaza city of Rafah in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. The Israeli army has ordered tens of thousands of people to evacuate Rafah as it conducts a ground operation there.  - Sputnik Africa
10/11

Displaced Palestinians arrive in central Gaza after fleeing from the southern Gaza city of Rafah in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. The Israeli army has ordered tens of thousands of people to evacuate Rafah as it conducts a ground operation there.

© AP Photo / Abdel Kareem Hana

Displaced Palestinians arrive in central Gaza after fleeing from the southern Gaza city of Rafah in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on Wednesday, May 7, 2024. The Israeli army has ordered tens of thousands of people to evacuate Rafah as it conducts a ground operation there.

Displaced Palestinians arrive in central Gaza after fleeing from the southern Gaza city of Rafah in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on Wednesday, May 7, 2024. The Israeli army has ordered tens of thousands of people to evacuate Rafah as it conducts a ground operation there.  - Sputnik Africa
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Displaced Palestinians arrive in central Gaza after fleeing from the southern Gaza city of Rafah in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on Wednesday, May 7, 2024. The Israeli army has ordered tens of thousands of people to evacuate Rafah as it conducts a ground operation there.

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