UNRWA Reports: Over One Million People Have Left Rafah

According to news agencies, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) stated on Monday, June 14, that more than one million people have left the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. Approximately 1.4 million people had sought refuge in Rafah during the war, but they began to leave after Israel urged them to evacuate before a full-scale operation. According to reports from media outlets including Reuters and The Times of Israel, Israel emphasized amidst international concerns about military operations in Rafah that the last remaining battalions of Hamas must be destroyed and that control of the Gaza-Egypt border area must be secured to prevent the transfer of weapons by Hamas. The Israeli army announced on Wednesday, June 9, the discovery of a 1.5-kilometer-long 'terrorist' tunnel in eastern Rafah, which contained dozens of missiles and anti-tank weapons. The Israeli Defense Forces stated in a post on X that 'just 100 meters from the Rafah crossing, our soldiers found a tunnel axis that branched into several different paths and contained several explosive doors, a hideout, and logistical facilities.' According to the Israeli army, Hamas uses these tunnels to carry out terrorist attacks against Israeli soldiers, and the Israeli Defense Forces will continue their operations wherever Hamas is hiding. The Times of Israel reported that as more Palestinians left Rafah, the Israeli army targeted 50 positions in Gaza the previous day. According to the Israeli army, these positions included infrastructure and buildings belonging to 'terrorist groups and weapons depots.' These attacks come as the Israeli army continues operations in Rafah and the 'Netsarim' crossing. Israel completed the construction of this six-kilometer crossing from Gaza to the Mediterranean Sea last February to use it for operations against Hamas and also to provide a safe route for aid to Gaza. Meanwhile, the Israeli army stated that the long-range air defense system 'Arrow' intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Iranian-backed Houthi forces from Yemen towards Eilat, the southernmost city in Israel. The alarm sounded in Eilat amid this incident. The Houthis have launched several ballistic missiles and drones towards Eilat during the Gaza war. The Israeli war in Gaza began in response to terrorist attacks by Hamas and its allies on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which Israeli officials say resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages taken. Many countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Israel, Japan, and the European Union, have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. The continuation of Israeli operations in Rafah coincides with the presentation of a three-phase plan by the President of the United States. Eyes on Rafah or Iran? A debate between Arash Azizi and Morteza Ismailpour. Hamas welcomed Biden's three-phase plan; Biden: It is time to end the war in Gaza. Israeli forces have taken control of the buffer zone between southern Gaza and Egypt. The continuation of Israeli military operations in Rafah; the army reported the discovery of a Hamas tunnel filled with missiles.