More than 150,000 people have now left Gaza's southernmost city since receiving warnings on Monday from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of an imminent military operation, with most moving after airstrikes and fighting later intensified.
Among those fleeing yesterday was Iyad Jarboa, an acting instructor and theatre director who left his home in eastern Rafah on Thursday with his family to seek safety in the city of Khan Younis, six miles away.
"We have been suffering since the beginning of the war, but these last nights were the most difficult of all, with bombing of all kinds everywhere and none of us able to sleep," said Jarboa, 45.
"I was worried that my children and my wife would be killed, but also that if we left it too late, we would never escape."
His brother, sister-in-law and aunt have all sustained serious injuries during the conflict.
"We only have two wheelchairs, so I have to carry one of them on my back and so it would be impossible to move at all if the situation worsened," Jarboa said.
There has been no panic, humanitarian officials in Rafah said, just huge numbers of people packing whatever they have in preparation for yet another move. Many have been displaced many times as they have fled successive Israeli military offensives.
A million people who sought shelter in Rafah, after fleeing fighting or after their homes were destroyed, turned the small city of 300,000 into a sprawling, overcrowded encampment.
One aid official said: "There are a lot of people on the move today and continued bombardments ... It's all orderly, with people tidying up after themselves."
Esta historia es de la edición May 11, 2024 de The Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 11, 2024 de The Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Palmer and Kane shine for England to step up Euro push
Gareth Southgate decided to make his move.
Welcome to hell Mourinho thrives on discomfort with Fenerbahce move a fitting sanctuary
Towards the end of the second hour, with the time beginning to drag like heat, and even the flies losing the will to live, José Mourinho leans towards the microphone.
China's Shein wins Labour support for London listing
The Labour party has indicated its support for Shein's potential London listing, as the Chinese online fashion company prepares to push the button on the UK's biggest ever stock market flotation.
German floods prove need for urgent climate action, says chancellor
The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said flooding in the south of the country was a call to action on the climate crisis, as the death toll from the disaster rose yesterday and thousands faced another night away from their homes.
Dutch pair face jail in Latvia after helping refugees to reach safety
Two Dutch people are facing prison sentences of up to eight years in Latvia over what they say was an act of compassion to help a group of refugees reach safety, including the sister of one of the pair.
Jury panel selection begins for Hunter Biden trial
Jury selection began yesterday in the federal gun case against the US president's son, Hunter Biden.
Gaza Militant resurgence in north highlights risk of 'forever war', experts say
There may be more Hamas militants in the north of Gaza, supposedly cleared by Israeli forces months ago, than in Rafah, the territory's southernmost city that was described by Israeli officials as the militant Islamist organisation's \"last stronghold\", analysts believe.
Gething faces no-confidence vote as scandals cut through
There was no honeymoon period and precious little breathing room for Vaughan Gething to relish the historic achievement of becoming the first black leader of a European country.
Galleries had 'kneejerk' reaction to Black Lives Matter, says artist
British arts institutions deployed \"kneejerk\" and \"stopgap\" responses in the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter movement as they attempted to avoid criticism for the lack of diversity in their collections, according to the artist Gavin Jantjes.
Zara Aleena's family tortured by thought that her death was preventable
The family of Zara Aleena, who was sexually assaulted and murdered in east London while walking home after a night out, is \"tortured\" by thoughts that her \"death was preventable\" - and that a \"crumbling justice system\" contributed to it.