Thousands of Palestinians in Rafah run out of shelters as Israel threatens assault

Hundreds of Palestinians contemplate their next steps after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the army to prepare for an assault on Rafah.

Half of Gaza's population, many displaced multiple times, are now sheltering in Rafah after Israel forced them to the border with Egypt.

Middle East Eye's Maha Husseini is among the displaced and spoke to Palestinians in Rafah as they contemplate their next steps as they face further displacement.

Husseini spoke to Saleh Razaina, who has taken shelter in the Philadelphia Corridor, a 14km stretch of land along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

Razaina, displaced for the sixth time since the beginning of Israel's attack on 7 October, said he and his family "have been drained physically and mentally" trying to find a safe place to stay.

"I came from Jabalia [in the northern Gaza Strip] and have sought refuge in different places from the north to the south, in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, and now we are here in Rafah. A few days after we arrived, Israel started threatening to attack Rafah," the 42-year-old father of four told Middle East Eye.

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