Displaced from their home in Gaza City months ago, Ms. al-Wakeel and relatives began packing their bags on Monday and preparing to dismantle their tent in Rafah, at the southern edge of the Gaza Strip.
Hamas had announced that it had accepted a cease-fire proposal from Qatar and Egypt, leaving many Gazans thinking that a truce was imminent.
Instead, Israeli warplanes dropped leaflets in eastern Rafah telling people to flee and move to what Israel called a humanitarian zone to the north, as the Israeli military bombarded the area.
Gazan health officials say that dozens have been killed since Israel’s incursion into parts of Rafah this week.
“We thought that day a cease-fire was possible,” said Ms. al-Wakeel, 48, who helped the aid group World Central Kitchen prepare hot meals.
Persons:
Manal, Israel, ”, Abu Yousef al, Marwan al
Organizations:
Hamas, Najjar
Locations:
Gaza, Rafah, Qatar, Egypt, Israel, Hams