In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, tensions have risen as the United States and Israel once again demonstrate a lack of alignment. President Biden expressed his disagreement with Israel's actions in Gaza, describing them as 'over the top.' Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to make evacuation plans before entering the major population center of Rafah in Gaza, where approximately 1.3 million largely displaced Palestinians are seeking shelter, according to the United Nations.
Reports from Gaza depict distressing scenes of bloodshed, further highlighting the severity of the situation. Heartbreaking images captured a grandfather cradling the lifeless body of his seven-year-old granddaughter, Ataf, as they prepared to lay her to rest. The family had sought refuge in a school in Khan Yunus, but an airstrike devastated the area, leaving countless children dead or severely injured. The Hamas-run health ministry estimates that over 10,000 children have lost their lives since the start of the conflict, leaving many others orphaned or facing life-altering injuries.
In Deir el-Balah, airstrikes have become a near-daily occurrence, leaving survivors to sift through the wreckage with their bare hands, desperately searching for loved ones. In the besieged city of Rafah, which was once deemed a safe zone, over 600,000 children now find themselves among the more than one million people residing in the area. These vulnerable individuals have sought shelter in sprawling tent cities.
The continuous Israeli airstrikes in Rafah have led to mounting concerns that a ground operation could result in a zone of bloodshed, according to aid groups. They warn that if an invasion were to occur, an estimated two-thirds of the population in Rafah would perish, as the residents have no means of escape.
Rafah is not only a lifeline for displaced individuals; it is also a critical entry point for humanitarian aid from Egypt. Consequently, members of the international community have begun expressing alarm about Israel's plans for the city. The U.S. State Department has issued a warning, stating their inability to support an Israeli military operation in Rafah without proper provisions for the safety of civilians. President Biden himself has criticized Israel's actions, describing them as excessive.
Despite diplomatic efforts between Egypt, the United States, and Qatar, no breakthrough in negotiations or ceasefire agreements has been reached. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has rejected Hamas's proposal for a prolonged truce, which outlined a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the gradual release of Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu remains resolute in achieving what he terms a 'complete victory' over Hamas, leaving little room for diplomatic solutions.
While discussions between regional foreign ministers in Riyadh and a high-level delegation of Hamas officials in Cairo continue, pressure mounts on Israel amid widespread international concern for the situation in Rafah and the potential for a ground incursion by Israeli troops. The outcome of these negotiations and the fate of Gaza remains uncertain.
