Iranian Drone and Missile Strikes Shift Focus as Israel Weighs Retaliation and Ground Offensive in Rafah

As Israel continues to weigh its response to a missile and drone attack launched by Iran, the fate of nearly two million Palestinians in Gaza hangs in the balance, especially those seeking shelter in the southern border town of Rafah. Israel had planned to initiate a ground operation in Rafah, the last untouched area of the Gaza Strip, but these plans were delayed after the Iranian assault on Monday, April 15, 2024.

While Israel has been planning its military response for weeks, including leaflets urging evacuations in Rafah, the recent Iranian strikes have shifted the war cabinet’s attention to weighing retaliation options. However, Israel’s government has insisted that the ground operation in Rafah will still go ahead, despite mounting tensions and opposition from its allies.

On the same evening, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant briefed officials on preparations for the operation. Despite the focus on civilian evacuation and aid delivery, displaced people in Gaza have been fleeing north in anticipation of the ground assault. Many are attempting to escape overcrowded shelters, but Israeli forces recently opened fire on a group heading north, killing five.

Human rights activist Maha Hussaini, who had been fleeing the violence with her family, described the dangerous journey. “When the Israeli army invades a place, the attacks are indiscriminate,” she said. For days, she had been seeking refuge away from Rafah as Israel threatened an impending attack on the region.

Hussaini’s family, along with other displaced Palestinians, joined a desperate mass of people traveling toward Gaza City. Along the way, they encountered heavy Israeli bombardments, including artillery, naval strikes, and aerial attacks. Amid the chaos, families struggled to find safety, and the violence forced them to return to the south of Gaza for shelter.

The issue of whether Palestinians can safely return to northern Gaza remains a key sticking point in ongoing negotiations, especially in relation to potential ceasefire talks and hostage releases. More than 300,000 people in northern Gaza are enduring severe shortages of food and essential supplies, compounded by Israeli military controls that have made aid distribution increasingly difficult.

While a new aid crossing opened in northern Gaza, it remains inaccessible for UN shipments, leaving the southern part of the territory as the primary entry point for humanitarian aid. The lack of access to food and medical supplies continues to exacerbate the dire humanitarian situation in the region.