STORY: Palestinians live in anxiety as Israel threatens to expand offensive to Rafah
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 5, 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 7, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:03
LOCATION: Gaza
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the views in Rafah City
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): NAEMA SAFI, Relocated Palestinian 
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): WALID REDWAN, Relocated Palestinian

STORYLINE:

The Israeli army has intensified its military operation and ground invasion in Khan Younis city, sparking fears that the army will reach the adjacent Rafah City soon.

For many displaced Palestinians, since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in October last year, Gaza's southern Rafah City has been their last refuge in the Gaza Strip.

Naema Safi, 57-year-old, is one of the about 1.5 million people in Gaza who were forced to relocate to the border town of Rafah to escape from the Israeli attacks. 

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): NAEMA SAFI, Relocated Palestinian  
"There is no safe place. I came from Madinat Al-Zahra and went to Nuseirat, and from Nuseirat I went here to Rafah. Until this moment I feel like I can't think at all."

The border city is also a lifeline for the besieged enclave, which receives food and medicine aid from foreign countries and United Nations institutions through its land crossing with Egypt.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): WALID REDWAN, Relocated Palestinian 
"We suffer from many difficulties, starting with the tents in which we live, especially as we have children and women with us. This invasion of Rafah is very dangerous, especially since it threatens all of our lives, especially in light of more than a million and a half people who live in very difficult living conditions."

On Thursday last week, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that they had "succeeded in disbanding al-Qassam Brigades in Khan Younis city," and would continue its operation in Rafah.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gaza.
(XHTV)