Rafah Border Crossing Witnesses Second Wave of Departures Amidst Ongoing Hostilities
In the wake of relentless conflict, Gaza’s Rafah border crossing to Egypt turned into a gateway of respite for hundreds of foreign nationals on Thursday. Following the release of a list of nearly 600 eligible foreign passport holders by Gaza’s border authority, about 400 Americans, among others, are slated to leave the beleaguered region.
This exodus marks the second batch of evacuations after numerous injured Palestinians, foreign nationals, and dual citizens made their way out of the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
UN Accuses Israel of Possible War Crimes Following Airstrikes on Jabalya Refugee Camp
The international community is growing concerned as the United Nations condemned Israeli airstrikes on the Jabalya refugee camp, denouncing them as actions that “could amount to war crimes.” The strikes have wrought death and injuries upon hundreds, as per a hospital director in Gaza. While Israel maintains that the strikes are aimed at neutralizing Hamas operatives and infrastructure, the human cost of the operation is mounting.
Grim Tally: Death and Injury Counts Soar as Violence Continues Unabated
The toll of death and despair escalates with every passing day. As per the Gaza Health Ministry, the conflict has claimed at least 8,796 lives in Gaza while leaving more than 22,219 wounded. The October 7 attack by Hamas has also inflicted a heavy human cost on Israel, with at least 1,400 killed and around 5,400 injured, state Israeli officials.
West Bank’s Unrest: Rising Violence and Displacement Following Oct. 7 Attacks
The ripple effects of the conflict are felt strongly in the occupied West Bank, where the UN humanitarian agency highlighted escalating violence towards Palestinians by Israeli settlers and defence forces. Since the fateful attacks on October 7, at least 828 Palestinians have been dislodged from their abodes. Rights groups underscore that settler violence has surged to an unprecedented level post the Hamas’s attacks.
The unfolding human tragedy amid the ongoing military actions continues to draw a grim picture of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As foreign nationals seek exit from the war-torn region, the cries for peace and justice reverberate across the global stage, yearning for an end to the bloodshed and a pathway towards lasting peace.
