The people of Rafah in southern Gaza, many of them displaced, are facing a dire situation as Israel threatens an offensive on the city. Aid agencies and world leaders have raised alarm about the potential consequences of such an attack. Essential supplies like food, fuel, and water are scarce due to Israeli restrictions on transporting humanitarian aid into the city. Despite international pressure, Israel plans to proceed with its ground offensive to confront Hamas fighters near the border with Egypt.
UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese has criticized the planned offensive, highlighting Rafah as the last symbol of Palestinian existence in Gaza. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has warned that the healthcare situation in Gaza is critically dire, with a widening gap between needs and available support.
A mobile hospital was installed in Rafah to compensate for the loss of essential healthcare services after Nasser Hospital, the main hospital in southern Gaza, was rendered non-functional due to Israeli siege and shelling. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that only 11 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are partially functioning, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Additionally, Israeli attacks on hospitals and medical facilities have further crippled health services for the Palestinians in Gaza.