10 Million Palestinians Displaced from Rafah
More than 10 million Palestinians have been forced to flee the southern city of Rafah in Gaza due to Israeli military operations, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Starting from May of the current year, Israeli military forces have initiated attacks on Rafah city to eliminate Hamas fighters and dismantle their infrastructure. Consequently, the Israeli military has issued instructions for Rafah residents to evacuate to a "dispersed human area" nearly 20 kilometers (12 miles) away from Rafah, Reuters reported.
UNRWA stated that thousands of families have sought refuge in damaged buildings and ruins in the Khan Yunis city. Despite facing ongoing challenges, they continue to provide necessary services. However, many Palestinians express concerns that wherever they go, they remain at risk of Israeli attacks. Egypt has expressed that it may not be possible to provide relief through Rafah due to the ongoing Israeli aggression.
If Israel does not withdraw its military and control measures from the Gaza portion of Rafah Crossing, resuming this relief route would not be possible, stated the country. On Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry mentioned this during a joint press conference in Madrid with his Spanish counterpart.
He stated that the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty still serves as a solid foundation for stability and security in the region. Everyone should respect this crucial agreement and take responsible steps. In addition, Israel has been barred from entering the Maldives for Israeli citizens holding passports. However, it has not been announced when this ban will be effective.
In response, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned its citizens to leave the Maldives as soon as possible, stating that assistance would be difficult to provide in case of any danger. According to the Maldivian government's information, a total of 528 Israeli citizens have visited the Maldives in the first four months of this year, compared to 4,644 during the same period in 2023. Besides the Maldives, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen have imposed bans on Israeli passport holders.
On the other hand, United Nations experts have called on all countries to recognize Palestine. They have urged all countries to grant recognition to the Palestinian state to ensure peace and security in the Middle East. According to them, the only internationally agreed and bilateral solution for peace and security between Palestine and Israel is a two-state solution.
