In the midst of the ongoing conflict between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas, thousands of Palestinians have been left displaced and seeking shelter in dire conditions. Along the Gaza border with Egypt, a new settlement of tents and makeshift campsites has emerged, housing many of those forced to flee their homes.

Mariam Abu Eida and her family, originally from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, were urged by the IDF to escape the fighting and relocate to the southern region. Lacking proper resources to build a shelter, they found themselves crammed into an open-top shipping container. Despite their efforts to create a makeshift home using plastic sheets and wooden panels, the freezing temperatures remain a significant challenge for the Abu Eida family.

Rafah, a previously barren strip of land along the nine-mile Gaza-Egypt border, has become the main refuge for an estimated one million displaced Palestinians. The city and existing shelters in the area are already overwhelmed, forcing many to seek solace in the barren corridor known as the Philadelphi Corridor, which runs alongside the physical barrier between Gaza and Egypt.

According to the United Nations, approximately 1.7 million out of Gaza's total population of 2.3 million have been displaced as of January 20th. The lack of international assistance in the Philadelphi Corridor has left its inhabitants in desperate conditions, with little access to food, water, medicine, and appropriate shelter.

While the border area with Egypt has seen less impact from the conflict, Israeli officials have encouraged civilians to evacuate to the southern Gaza Strip, including the Philadelphi Corridor. The displaced Palestinians feel safer along the border, believing that Israel is less likely to bombard the area. However, their hopes for aid are often limited, as Egyptian soldiers stationed at the border are under strict orders not to respond to their pleas for food and water, to avoid potential diplomatic tension with Israel.

The Philadelphi Corridor, established decades ago as a demilitarized zone, has become the focus of Israeli plans to occupy and control it during their operations in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the need for stricter control over the border, as it is suspected to be a channel for weapons and supplies into the hands of Hamas. Egypt vehemently denies these claims and asserts its determination to defend its sovereignty.

For displaced Palestinians like Mariam Abu Eida and her family, the prospect of Israel occupying the buffer zone adds further anxiety. As they wait for further instructions, they remain uncertain about their future and only plan to leave when instructed to do so.

The plight of the displaced Palestinians along the Gaza-Egypt border highlights the urgent need for international assistance and a resolution to the ongoing conflict. As the numbers continue to rise, the physical and emotional toll on the displaced population calls for immediate attention and support.