Rafah: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Short description|Palestinian city in southsouthern Gaza Strip}}

{{about|the city in the Gaza Strip, in Palestine|the part of the city in [[North Sinai Governorate|North Sinai]]|Rafah, Egypt|other uses|Rafah (disambiguation)}}

{{pp|small=yes}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

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| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Rafah

| pushpin_relief = 1

| image_map = Location RhafaRafah.png

| map_caption = Location of Rafah in the Gaza Strip

| coordinates = {{coord|31|16|21|N|34|15|31|E|region:PS|display=inline,title}}

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| leader_name = Anwar al-Shaer (2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/11/gaza-strip-municipalities-elections-presidents-rafah.html|title=Palestinians criticize Hamas' decision to appoint municipal presidents – Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East|date=November 2019 }}</ref>

| unit_pref = dunam

| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |author=Al Jazeera Staff |title=What’sWhat's happening in Gaza’sGaza's Rafah as Israel threatens to attack? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/11/what-is-happening-in-gazas-rafah-as-israel-threatens-to-attack |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>

| area_total_km2 = 64

| area_total_dunam =

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}}

'''Rafah''' ({{lang-ar|رفح}} {{transliteration|ar|Rafaḥ}} {{IPA-|ar|rafaħ|}}) is a [[State of Palestine|Palestinian]] city in the southern [[Gaza Strip]], [[State of Palestine|Palestine]]. It is the capital of the [[Rafah Governorate]] of the [[State of Palestine]], located {{convert|30|km|mi|sp=us}} south-west of [[Gaza City]]. In 2017, Rafah had a population of 171,889.<ref name="PrelimCensus2017" /> As a result of massive bombardment and ground assaults in [[Gaza City]] and [[Khan Yunis]] by [[Israel]] during the [[Israel–Hamas war]], about 1.4 million Palestinians are believed to be sheltering in Rafah as of February 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gaza: Israel’sIsrael's military operation in Rafah would be fatal for displaced civilians and humanitarian aid |url=https://www.nrc.no/news/2024/february/gaza-israels-military-operation-in-rafah-would-be-fatal-for-displaced-civilians-and-humanitarian-aid/ |date=8 February 2024|access-date=8 February 2024 |work=Norwegian Refugee Council}}</ref>

After the [[1948 Palestine war]], [[Egypt]] governed the area and [[refugee camp]]s for displaced Palestinians who [[1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight|fled or were expelled]] from what became Israel were established. During the [[Suez Crisis]], the [[Israel Defence Forces]] (IDF) killed 111 Palestinians, including 103 refugees in the Rafah refugee camp, during the [[1956 Rafah massacre]]. During the 1967 [[Six-Day War]], Israeli forces occupied the [[Sinai Peninsula]] and [[Gaza Strip]] after capturing them from Egypt. In the same year, IDF troops bulldozed and demolished 144 houses in the Rafah refugee camp, killing 23 Palestinians.<ref name="HC"/>

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When Israel withdrew from the Sinai in 1982, Rafah was split into a Gazan part and an [[Rafah, Egypt|Egyptian part]], dividing families, separated by barbed-wire barriers.<ref name=cinderella /><ref name=kliot_1995 /> The core of the city was destroyed by Israel,<ref name="Razing_Rafah">[https://web.archive.org/web/20060325230545/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/rafah1004/rafah1004text.pdf ''Razing Rafah — Mass Home Demolitions in the Gaza Strip''], pp. 27–28 and 52–66 (PDF text version) on [https://web.archive.org/web/20060325230545/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/rafah1004/], [https://web.archive.org/web/20060324012233/http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/gaza/ Summary:]. [http://www.refworld.org/docid/45d171362.html ''The report on refworld:'']. Human Rights Watch (HRW), October 2004</ref><ref name=UNWRA_appeal>[http://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/2010011813024.pdf ''Supplementary Appeal for Rafah'']. UNWRA, May 2004</ref><ref name="Uprooting">PCHR, [http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/Reports/English/uprooting%20_trees%20_10.pdf ''Uprooting Palestinian Trees And Leveling Agricultural Land – The tenth Report on Israeli Land Sweeping and Demolition of Palestinian Buildings and Facilities in the Gaza Strip 1 April 2003 – 30 April 2004''] On [http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2675:the-tenth-report-on-israeli-land-sweeping-and-demolition-of-palestinian-buildings-and-facilities-in-the-gaza-strip-1-april-2003-30-april2004&catid=43:pchrdemolitionlandsweeping&Itemid=187]</ref> as well as Egypt,<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/01/08/egyptian-military-doubling-buffer-zone-with-gaza-demolishing-nearly-1220-more/ ''Egyptian military doubling buffer zone with Gaza, demolishing nearly 1,220 more homes'']. Associated Press, 8 January 2015</ref><ref>[https://www.hrw.org/report/2015/09/22/look-another-homeland/forced-evictions-egypts-rafah ''Look for Another Homeland'']. Human Rights Watch, September 2015</ref> in order to create a large [[Gaza–Egypt border#Buffer zone|buffer zone]].

Rafah is the site of the [[Rafah Border Crossing]], the sole crossing point between Egypt and the [[Gaza Strip]]. Gaza's only airport, [[Yasser Arafat International Airport|Yasar Arafat International Airport]], was located just south of the city. The airport operated from 1998 to 2001, until it was bombed and bulldozed by the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli military]] (IDF).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-05-19 |title=Grounded in Gaza, but hoping to fly again |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7900217 |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wayback Machine |url=http://legacy.icao.int/icao/en/nr/2002/pio200203_e.pdf |access-date=2024-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222201351/http://legacy.icao.int/icao/en/nr/2002/pio200203_e.pdf |accessarchive-date=2024-03-22 |website=web.archive.orgFebruary 2014 }}</ref>

== Etymology ==

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In the 2006 PCBS estimate, Rafah city had a population of 71,003,<ref name="PCBS2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/populati/pop16.aspx|title=PCBS] [Palestinian Central Bureau of Statisctics (PCBS) Projected Mid-Year Population for Rafah Governorate by Locality 2004–2006|access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref> [[Rafah camp]] and [[Tall as-Sultan]] form separate localities for census purposes, having populations of 59,983 and 24,418, respectively.<ref name="PCBS2006" />

== Archaeology ==

[[Antiochus III]], willing to make peace with [[Ptolemy V]], had his daughter [[Cleopatra I]] marry Ptolemy V. Their marriage took place in 193 BC in Raphia.<ref>Polybius 18.51.10 and 28.20.9; Livy 33.40.3 and 35.13.4; Appian, Syriaca 3.13 and 5.18</ref>▼

== History ==

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=== Hellenistic and Roman periods ===

In 217&nbsp;BCE the [[Battle of Raphia]] was fought between the victorious [[Ptolemy IV of Egypt|Ptolemy&nbsp;IV]] and [[Antiochus III the Great|Antiochus&nbsp;III]].<ref name=STFJ /> It is said to be one of the largest battles ever fought in the Levant, with over a hundred thousand soldiers and hundreds of [[elephant]]s.

▲[[Antiochus III]], willing to make peace with [[Ptolemy V]], had his daughter [[Cleopatra I]] marry Ptolemy V. Their marriage took place in 193 BC in Raphia.<ref>Polybius 18.51.10 and 28.20.9; Livy 33.40.3 and 35.13.4; Appian, Syriaca 3.13 and 5.18</ref>

The town was conquered by [[Alexander Yannai]] and held by the [[Hasmonean]]s until it was rebuilt in the time of [[Pompey]] and [[Aulus Gabinius|Gabinius]]; the latter seems to have done the actual work of restoration for the era of the town dates from 57&nbsp;BCE. Rafah is mentioned in [[Strabo]] (16, 2, 31), the [[Antonine Itinerary]], and is depicted on the [[Map of Madaba]].<ref name=STFJ />

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=== 2023–2024 War in Gaza ===

{{Main|Rafah offensive}}

During the Israeli Defence Forces' (IDF) war on Gaza, civilians were told to flee to Rafah and [[Gaza Strip evacuations|forcibly displaced from their homes]]. Although the Israeli government declared the southern half of Gaza a safe zone, the IDF proceeded to bomb the region extensively, with a ''[[New York Times]]'' investigation estimating that 2,000-pound bombs were dropped at least 200 times as of 21 December 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |lastlast1=Stein |firstfirst1=Robin |last2=Willis |first2=Haley |last3=Jhaveri |first3=Ishaan |last4=Miller |first4=Danielle |last5=Byrd |first5=Aaron |last6=Reneau |first6=Natalie |date=2023-12-22 |title=A Times Investigation Tracked Israel’sIsrael's Use of One of Its Most Destructive Bombs in South Gaza |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-bomb-investigation.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> By February 2024, roughly two-thirds of Gaza's population, or 1.4 million people, had been forcibly displaced from other parts of the territory into Rafah, with the IDF declaring its intent to enter the city. Critics have warned about the potential for [[Casualties of the Israel–Hamas war|mass civilian casualties]] in the event of a [[Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present)|ground invasion]], with the [[Secretary-general of the United Nations|UN secretary general]] [[António Guterres]] arguing that ''"Such an action would exponentially increase what is already a humanitarian nightmare with untold regional consequences."<ref>{{Cite web |title=UN chief warns of 'age of chaos' as Security Council divided on Gaza |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/7/un-chief-warns-of-age-of-chaos-as-security-council-stays-divided-on-gaza |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Al Jazeera}}</ref>'' On 9 February, [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] ordered the IDF to create an evacuation plan to remove civilians before launching an offensive against Rafah which is the last major population center in the Gaza Strip still under Hamas control and the elimination of Hamas was considered to be impossible as long as the four Hamas battalions in Rafah are intact.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tal |first1=Amir |last2=Krever |first2=Mick |date=9 February 2024 |title=Netanyahu directs Israeli military to draw up plan to evacuate more than one million people from Rafah as offensive looms |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/09/middleeast/israel-rafah-evacuation-gaza-intl/index.html |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=CNN}}</ref> Prior to the start of the ground invasion, Israel began to intensify its strikes on Rafah from the air. More than 44 people were killed in airstrikes on Rafah on 11 February, with many likely still under the rubble. Netanyahu continued to push for a ground invasion, claiming that "We're going to do it....Victory is within reach".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-10 |title=Gaza mediators and others warn Israel of disaster if it launches a ground invasion on crowded Rafah |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/gaza-mediators-and-others-warn-israel-of-disaster-if-it-launches-a-ground-invasion-on-crowded-rafah-1.6763825 |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Netanyahu ahead of Rafah ground invasion: 'Victory is within reach' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/netanyahu-this-week-interview/story?id=107130717 |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=‘We’re'We're going to do it’it': Israeli PM set on invasion of Rafah |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/11/israel-working-on-rafah-invasion-in-gaza-despite-international-alarm |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>

On 11 February, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported that Egypt had warned Hamas to release hostages within two weeks or face an IDF invasion of Rafah.<ref>{{cite news |title=Egypt tells Hamas it has two weeks to reach hostage deal before IDF moves into Rafah – WSJ |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/egypt-tells-hamas-it-has-two-weeks-to-reach-hostage-deal-before-idf-moves-into-rafah-wsj/ |access-date=11 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Peled |first1=Anat |last2=Abdel-Baqui |first2=Omar |last3=Said |first3=Summer |title=Invasion of Gaza Border City Looms as Biden Calls Israel’sIsrael's Offensive ‘Over'Over the Top’Top' |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/threat-of-israeli-offensive-hangs-over-packed-gaza-border-city-as-u-s-warns-of-disaster-53c801b4 |access-date=11 February 2024 |work=WSJ}}</ref> A joint operation in Rafah by the IDF, Shin Bet, and Israel Police recovered two hostages (Fernando Simon Marman and Louis Har) kidnapped by Hamas from [[Nir Yitzhak]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel rescues two hostages in Rafah amid deadly strikes |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68271340 |access-date=12 February 2024 |date=12 February 2024}}</ref> During this operation, heavy bombardment by the IDF occurred in the area that includes many refugee camps killing 112 people with several bodies still under the rubble.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-11 |title=Israeli strikes hit Rafah after Biden warns Netanyahu to have 'credible' plan to protect civilians |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/israeli-strikes-hit-rafah-after-biden-warns-netanyahu-to-have-credible-plan-to-protect-civilians-1.6764414 |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}</ref>

== Rafah Border Crossing ==