Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who came to Rafah to escape Israel’s bombing campaign are now fleeing as it has become clear it is not the “safe zone” that was promised.

“A safe zone has two obligations,” says Elder.  “The occupying force, Israel, has a legal obligation to ensure safety — it sounds obvious, but a ‘safe zone’ can’t be bombed — and a safe zone also has to have the things that sustain life: protection, water, food, medicine. These areas [in and around Rafah] have none of that. There has been no attempt whatsoever.”