Palestinians leaving eastern Rafah after the Israel Defense Forces called on people to evacuate have been describing their fear and despair to a CNN stringer in the area.
Mohammed Ghanem and his wife were pushing strollers piled high with belongings.
“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,” Ghanem told CNN. “We left because they distributed leaflets and are striking everywhere without differentiating between children, adults, militants, or non-militants. I left my house that I have been building for 17 years.”
Faisal Barbakh was on a bicycle:
“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 said. “I’m carrying all of my life here. My family is torn [apart] in seven places. I feel it’s the end of life. I can’t think anymore. I left 59 years of life behind, all of my memories, my children’s pictures, the contract of my house. Only God knows how much effort I have put in there. “It is not only my feeling, it is everyone’s feeling.”
Videos from the area showed trucks full of people’s belongings driving through the streets, which became increasingly crowded as the day wore on.
Malek and Yousef, two boys, were making their way out on bicycles, carrying their bags. One said:
“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 leaving have been previously displaced. One man told CNN it’s his fourth time being displaced.
“From Nuseirat to Khan Younis, then to Rafah, and now another one. I don’t know where I am heading.”
