In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israel's military has issued new evacuation orders in the southern city of Rafah, further displacing Palestinians and provoking international concern. The latest orders encompass areas closer to the city center, as Israel intensifies its efforts to target Hamas battalions in Rafah, vowing to use "great force against terror organizations."

These new evacuation orders come despite worries about the safety of over 1 million Palestinians, half of whom are children, seeking refuge in Rafah, according to UNICEF. With more than half of Gaza's population already displaced in Rafah, which has been a hub for aid groups throughout the war, the situation in the city becomes even more dire.

The Israeli military has also urged residents in parts of northern Gaza's Jabalia and Beit Lahia to move to the western part of Gaza City, citing Hamas regrouping in those areas. According to the United Nations, over 75% of the Gaza Strip is now under evacuation orders.

Hundreds of thousands of residents have already left Rafah this week following the initial evacuation orders for eastern parts of the city. It has been a challenging journey for many, as they traverse the roads filled with garbage and sewage, often dragging their children and pushing the wounded in wheelchairs.

Meanwhile, Israel's ground assault into Rafah, which began on Monday night, has closed Gaza's main crossing for aid and fuel, leaving severely wounded Palestinians and foreign aid workers trapped. The military claims that its operations in eastern Rafah are precise and targeted, accusing Hamas of using the city's civilians as "human shields."

Cease-fire talks in Cairo have come to a standstill, according to Hamas. The group accuses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the war to further his own goals and ambitions. As a result, the delivery of food and medical supplies to Gaza has been severely hindered, raising concerns of hunger and starvation among the population.

UNRWA, the main U.N. agency responsible for aid in Gaza, reports that no food or medical supplies have entered Gaza through the main crossings since Sunday. Only a limited amount of fuel was transferred on Friday, which barely meets the pressing needs of hospitals and other critical facilities.

The World Food Program also faces challenges in providing assistance, as its main warehouse in Rafah remains inaccessible due to the escalating conflict. Aid groups are urgently establishing field clinics and kitchens in the area of al-Mawasi, which has been designated as an "expanded humanitarian zone" by the Israeli military. Efforts to build healthcare services in this area are still underway.

The situation in Rafah is increasingly dire, with constant bombing and shelling occurring almost every 10 minutes, leaving thousands of people stranded with nowhere to go. Daily airstrikes on residential homes have resulted in numerous civilian casualties, particularly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry and survivors' accounts.

In a recent report, the U.S. State Department expressed concern that Israel may have violated international humanitarian law during its operations in Gaza. The conflict shows no signs of abating, as evacuations continue and the need for urgent humanitarian aid escalates.

As the international community grapples with the unfolding crisis in Gaza, efforts to secure a lasting peace remain elusive, leaving the people of Rafah and the wider Gaza Strip caught in the crossfire of a devastating conflict.