Israel’s order for Palestinians to flee to evacuation zone a ‘death trap’
A week after its soldiers encircled and killed paramedics in the Tal as-Sultan area, the Israeli army in the early hours of this morning ordered the complete evacuation of Rafah city, telling people to move to the al-Mawasi evacuation zone that is supposed to be safe.
But as we have seen in the past, this area that is designated as an area for displaced people has not been safe at all.
Many people died within days and hours of their arrival to al-Mawasi, and unfortunately, it turned into more of a death trap. As soon as people left their homes and went to al-Mawasi, they would be bombed and maimed and killed inside the evacuation zone.
So far, there are two people reported killed [in Rafah today], and that’s what we know from the paramedics who were able to recover the bodies from the area, which was attacked by heavy artillery and drones.
But the fact that this is happening is largely viewed by people here as a way to expand the buffer zone from the Philadelphi Corridor into the centre of the city.
It’s also viewed as more pressure applied in order for Hamas to release captives.
But either way, civilians are paying the price. There is more blood that is being shed in Rafah city, more people are being pushed into internal displacement and enduring much of the hardship.
Rafah city at some point had a population of 300,000 people. Last year, it became the home of one million displaced Palestinians from across the Gaza Strip. And now, people in Rafah are being pushed into internal displacement one more time.
‘Supplies are running out’: OCHA
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned that supplies are running out in Gaza amid intensified Israel attacks and mass forced displacement.
“Humanitarian agencies are working around the clock to support people,” the agency said in a post on X. “But as long as we’re not allowed to bring in any critical commodities there only is so much we can do.”
Humanitarian agencies are working around the clock to support people in #Gaza amid a surge in casualties and displacement.
But as long as we're not allowed to bring in any critical commodities there only is so much we can do.
Supplies are running out. #OpenUpGaza pic.twitter.com/rIwrXVw1gZ
— OCHA OPT (Palestine) (@ochaopt) March 31, 2025
Mother of three children killed in Israeli attack collapses at hospital
There is ongoing heavy machine-gun shooting in the eastern part of the Shujayea and Zeitoun neighbourhoods of Gaza City. It seems that the Israeli military is putting more pressure on the few families who are remaining in these areas simply because there’s no other place to go or to evacuate.
They are also targeting the remaining residential buildings in the area with heavy artillery.
Earlier, in the late afternoon, a residential home in Gaza City was targeted and destroyed by fighter jets during a busy time. This is the second day of Eid and families were visiting each other, offering Eid greetings, when the attack happened.
One family member told us that he was five minutes away from visiting his sister, who was killed in the strike. We saw a mother inside the hospital, collapsed and crying … [she was] the mother of three kids who were killed in the attack.
Twelve people were killed in this strike. The last body that was recovered from under the rubble was brought here, along with a plastic bag that was full of the flesh of another body that was recovered from under the rubble. Children, women and men killed in this attack were from one family.
And this wasn’t the only attack today. At least 34 people have been killed across Gaza, more than half of them women and children.
