Rafah: Palestinian civilians trapped in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood in western Rafah are facing genocide amid an Israeli onslaught in the southern Gaza Strip, municipal authorities warned on Monday.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Rafah Municipality stated, "Tel al-Sultan is subjected to genocide as thousands of civilians, including children, women, and elderly people, remain trapped under heavy Israeli bombardment, with no means of escape." The statement highlighted the dire situation faced by Palestinian families who are trapped among the rubble without access to essential resources such as water, food, or medicine, and amidst a complete collapse of health services.
The municipality further warned that Palestinians injured in Israeli attacks are left without medical aid, resulting in fatalities due to lack of treatment, while children are suffering from hunger and thirst under continuous siege and bombardment. The Israeli army's order for residents of the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood to evacuate on Sunday led to mass displacement as thousands fled in anticipation of further attacks.
The situation escalated with Tel Aviv launching an intensive aerial campaign in the area Sunday night, resulting in numerous casualties. The Israeli army's recent actions have led to the death of more than 700 Palestinians and injuries to over 1,000 since the onset of the surprise aerial campaign on Gaza last Tuesday, disrupting a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that was established in January.
Since October 2023, the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in the death of over 50,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and injuries to more than 113,200 individuals. The International Criminal Court had previously issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.