Palestinians in eastern Rafah are fleeing their homes following a call from the Israel Defense Forces to evacuate, citing fear and despair among the residents. Mohammed Ghanem and his wife were seen pushing strollers loaded with their belongings as they left their home. Ghanem expressed the sentiment of many, stating, 'We no longer have a home. We are heading to Mawasi because there is no safety with the Israelis. They are killing women and children.' He described leaving behind the house he had been building for 17 years.
Another evacuee, Faisal Barbakh, expressed his anguish, saying, 'I am leaving for the unknown. I feel terrible. I just wish one of the people who caused us this were walking with us.' He highlighted the emotional toll of leaving behind 59 years of life, memories, and belongings.
Footage from the area captured trucks filled with people's possessions navigating through increasingly crowded streets. Two boys, Malek and Yousef, were spotted leaving on bicycles, carrying their bags. Malek explained, 'We are running away from the Israelis. They warned us and ordered us to evacuate the eastern area. I have my clothes and food in the bag. We are going to our grandparents' house.'
Many of those fleeing have experienced displacement before. One man shared that this was his fourth time being displaced, recounting his journey from Nuseirat to Khan Younis, then to Rafah, and now facing another uncertain relocation. The scenes of families leaving their homes underscore the ongoing turmoil and displacement faced by residents in the region.
