Hundreds of thousands flee Rafah after Israeli forces return

In the largest mass exodus since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas, hundreds of thousands of Gazans fled as Israeli forces advanced on the city of Rafah today. The offensive to seize control of Rafah represents a major escalation in the war that Israel resumed last month.

3 April, 2025 18:29

NEWS DESK

Hundreds of thousands of Gazans fled today in one of the largest mass exoduses since the outbreak of the war as Israeli forces advanced through the rubble of the city of Rafah, which they declared part of a "security zone" they intend to control, according to Reuters.

A day after announcing their intention to seize large swathes of the Strip, Israeli forces advanced into the southern city, which had served as a last resort for those displaced from other areas during the war.

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 97 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours, including at least 20 killed in an airstrike on the Shuja'iyya neighborhood of Gaza City early this morning.

The offensive to seize control of Rafah represents a major escalation in the war that Israel resumed last month, effectively abandoning a ceasefire that went into effect in January, according to the agency.

T/S

ANHA