Thread by @nour_odeh

1. What is happening in Rafah is NOT a 'limited operation'. AlMawasi is NOT a 'humanitarian' or 'safe' area. In fact, the war on Gaza is escalating dramatically. Here are a few thoughts on how and why this is the case. A short🧵

2. The Israeli offensive on Rafah started with sealing off of Rafah & Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossings. For 5 days now, no aid, medicine, or fuel have entered Southern Gaza, where the majority of the population is. That means the population is on fast track to starvation

3. UN agencies say they will run out of food supplies today & that fuel for hospitals may not last until Sunday. Staff of UN agencies & international humanitarian organizations are either huddled in their offices West of Rafah or are being displaced like the multitudes they serve

4. First order of forced displacement covered eastern parts of Rafah, including the government hospital (Abu Youssef AlNajjar). Today, Israel ordered the forced displacement of the center of Rafah (3 major refugee camps & packed neighborhoods), including the remaining hospital.

5. Since the start, Israeli bombardment of homes in east & west Rafah has not stopped from the air, ground, and sea. That means 100s of thousands in tents not ordered to leave have lived through heavy bombardment with nowhere to go. Meanwhile, bombing across Gaza has escalated.

6. By tomorrow, the handful of hospitals that are struggling to stay open will begin to shut down. Patients in the ICU and NICU will be at risk of death because there will be no fuel to power their life support machines. If this sounds familiar, that's because it is.

7. There is a cash crisis in Gaza. Even families receiving help from their siblings abroad have no way of getting cash. People are being ordered to go to AlMawasi, a small sand dune area without water, sanitation, infrastructure, services, or hospitals. People are on their own.

8. Emotionally & psychologically, this is a harder displacement. For many thousands, this is the 3rd, 4th, 5th time or more to be forcibly displaced. For 1000s others, it's their first; where their predecessors had hope of returning home, they know how this horror show goes.

9. Today, the Israeli army also ordered the forced displacement of the densely populated areas in Jabalia, where the army said it will be carrying a violent offensive. Tens of thousands are being displaced to the West, where Israeli army is bombing homes & leveling neighborhoods.

10. In Gaza City, Israeli troops have re-invaded Al-Zaytoun area for the third time, forcing thousands to flee without notice. Elsewhere in Gaza City, Israeli troops have once again employed the brutal tactic of leveling entire neighborhoods.

11. The Israeli Cabinet approved expanding the Rafah offensive. Biden drew a very elastic red line he keeps stretching. But Netanyahu knows he will get away with it. Why? Because that's been the story for decades.

11 Cont'd. The most illuminating example is US saying annexation of the West Bank was a red line. Netanyahu went ahead with annexation without calling it such, allowing Washington to split hairs & say de facto annexation & administrative annexation aren't full-blown annexation

12. On FR, the Biden admin issued a report that cleared Netanyahu to continue receiving US military aid. Never mind the damage to the admin's credibility, this report is more proof that Israel will push ahead with Rafah offensive without consequence.
More horrific days are ahead.