In the besieged city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, fear and panic have taken hold of the 1.5 million Palestinians, most of whom are displaced, attempting to seek shelter from Israel's relentless assault on the enclave. With nowhere else to go, the residents of Rafah now find themselves trapped and terrified as Israel threatens a ground invasion, despite initially designating the area as a "safe zone".

Over the past four months, Israel has continually attacked the supposed "safe zones" where civilians had sought refuge, forcing them to once again flee their homes in search of security. Despite international condemnation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains determined to press on with the invasion, claiming it will "finish Hamas" - the main target of the assault.

The potential ground invasion of Rafah has far-reaching implications, with senior Hamas leaders stating that any such move would effectively end any possibility of negotiations between the two sides. The already shattered sense of security in Rafah has only escalated, as residents face the grim reality of having "nowhere else to go".

Umm al-Abed Fayyad, one of the many Palestinians displaced from their homes multiple times, expressed the dire situation faced by the residents of Rafah. She emphasized that "the Israelis are everywhere" and questioned where they could possibly seek safety. With hunger and homelessness prevalent in the area, the determination to stay firm in the face of threats remains unwavering among the residents.

Asaad Hassan, another Palestinian displaced to Rafah, is desperately hoping to return to his home and for the aggression to cease. Echoing similar sentiments, Hassan highlighted the predicament faced by the inhabitants, stating that there is no other option but the grave if Israel follows through with their threats.

The war on the Gaza Strip, which started on October 7, has already claimed the lives of over 28,000 Palestinians, with a vast majority being women and children. Furthermore, more than 60 percent of Gaza's infrastructure has been demolished, leaving the majority of the 2.3 million residents displaced from their homes.

Umm Badr Abu Salme, who moved her family to Rafah upon Israeli army instructions, now finds herself in a state of anguish as the Israeli forces demand she leaves. She predicts an impending massacre, emphasizing that Rafah is the last refuge for her family and that the war must come to an end.

Mohammed Madi, a displaced medic, shares similar sentiments and is determined to remain in Rafah despite the threats. With the rest of Gaza destroyed, leaving is not a viable option for him. He pleads with Arab countries to intervene and put an end to the genocidal war on Gaza.

South Africa recently filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing them of genocide against the Palestinian people - a description that resonates with many in light of the ongoing conflict. Journalist Alaa Salameh, who has covered the war across the strip, vows to continue reporting from Rafah despite the threats from Israel. He calls for international pressure to prevent any potential crime from occurring.

As tensions escalate and the specter of a ground invasion looms over Rafah, the residents who have already suffered immense loss and displacement can only hope for a resolution that will bring peace and stability to their war-torn land.