Al-Mawasi (Arabic: المواصي) is a fertile area for agriculture in the Gaza Strip.[1] It is along the coast and has many sand dunes.[2] Al-Mawasi is fourteen kilometers long and one kilometer wide, making up about 3% of the Gaza Strip.[3][2] It is a Palestinian Bedouin town and prior to the 2005 unilateral Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip, it was a Palestinian enclave within the Israeli settlements of Gush Katif. Al-Mawasi had a population of 1,409 in the middle of 2006.[3] Prior to the Israel–Hamas war, al-Mawasi had a population of 9,000. It has a number of buildings with a maximum of 100 structures.[2]
Al-Mawasi | |
|---|---|
| Arabic transcription(s) | |
| • Arabic | المواصي |
  Al-Mawasi Location of Al-Mawasi within Palestine | |
| Coordinates: 31°19′44″N 34°13′48″E / 31.32889°N 34.23000°E | |
| State | State of Palestine |
| Governorate | Rafah |
| Government | |
| • Type | Village council |
| Population (2023) | |
• Total | 9,000 |
Region
editAl-Mawasi is known as the "Basket of Food" because of its fertile soil, underground water, and agricultural conditions.[2]
History
editIsrael–Hamas war
editDesignation as safe zone
editIn December 2023, during the Israel–Hamas war, the Israel Defense Forces had designated Al-Mawasi as one of the only safe areas in the Gaza Strip.[4] Hundreds of thousands of people had fled there, and found only a barren strip of land with no basic resources such as food, water, or sanitation.[5] In February 2024, as the IDF announced plans to expand operations into Rafah where hundreds of thousands had come to as a last refuge, Israeli authorities called Al-Mawasi a "safer zone".[6] In an interview with Channel 4 News, Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levi, when pressed to confirm if civilians displaced northwards once more would be safe from further bombardment, stated that "it will not be safe" until Gaza was free from Hamas.[7]
By late-August 2024, the United Nations estimated there were between 30,000 to 34,000 people per square kilometre in Al-Mawasi.[8] Food and water grew scarce as the area became increasingly overcrowded.[9]
Attacks
editIsrael declared Al-Mawasi a "safe zone".[10] Internally displaced persons who fled to Al-Mawasi reported no water, electricity, or buildings to shelter.[11] The UN and relief groups do not recognize Al-Mawasi or provide services there.[12] Al-Mawasi has been attacked numerous times during the war. The UN Human Rights Office has stated that "despite Al Mawasi, Khan Younis being declared a 'humanitarian zone' by the Israeli military, it continues to conduct airstrikes and shelling into the area.".[13]
On 26 December 2023, Israel bombed Al-Mawasi, killing one woman and saying it would not refrain from bombing safe zones.[14] Israeli bombings on 4 January 2024 focused on al-Mawasi, killing 14 people from two families, mostly children under ten.[15]
On 14 January 2024, UNOCHA reported that the displaced in al-Mawasi camp were in need of humanitarian supplies.[16] On 15 January 2024, three displaced people sheltering in a tent were reported killed by an Israeli airstrike.[17] On 22 January, the Gaza Health Ministry stated Israeli soldiers had raided the al-Khair hospital in al-Mawasi and arrested medical staff.[18] On 23 January, Israeli warplanes reportedly bombed tents for displaced people.[19]
On 3 February 2024, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported it finished setting up the fifth shelter camp in Al-Mawasi, able to house up to seventy families.[20] On 6 February, a woman was killed by an Israeli sniper.[21] Two people were injured by Israeli gunfire on 24 February.[22] On 10 March, at least 16 people were reported hospitalized following heavy Israeli bombardment.[23]
Israeli shelling on 11 March killed at least 14 people.[24] The Gaza Health Ministry reported an Israeli air raid had killed 12 people sheltering in a tent.[25] Children sheltering in a tent were reportedly killed on 27 March.[26][27] In mid-June 2024, witnesses stated they were evacuating al-Mawasi due to "unrelenting attacks" by the Israeli army.[28] A late-June 2024 attack reportedly killed at least 25 people and wounded 50.[29] In July 2024, an Israeli airstrike killed at least 17 and wounded 26 in a tent area for displaced families in Al-Mawasi, according to the health ministry.[30] Later that same month, an attack killed 90 people and wounded 300.[31]Two days after the Tel al-Sultan massacre by Israel, in which 45 people were killed, Palestinian officials said Israel attacked al-Mawasi, killing 21 people including 12 women.[32] Israel denied attacking the area. The New York Times published a video of the aftermath of the attack on Al-Mawasi.[33] On July 13, 2024, 90 people were killed by an Israeli airstrike on a displacement camp. [34] On July 28, 2024, five people were killed by an Israeli airstrike on Al-Mawasi, according to the Gaza Civil Defence.[35] On August 21, 2024, four farmers working near al-Mawasi were reportedly killed by Israeli tanks.[36] On September 10, 2024, 40 people were killed and over 60 are injured in an Israeli airstrike on a displacement camp.[37] On September 13, 2024, 19 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes.[38]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Roskin, Joel; Taxel, Itamar (2021-09-01). ""He who revives dead land": groundwater harvesting agroecosystems in sand along the southeastern Mediterranean coast since early medieval times". Mediterranean Geoscience Reviews. 3 (3): 293–318. doi:10.1007/s42990-021-00058-5. ISSN 2661-8648.
- ^ a b c d Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (September 10, 2024). "Gaza's Al-Mawasi: What is the 'humanitarian zone' struck by Israel's military?". Reuters.
- ^ a b "Al-Mawasi area". United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. 2014-08-11. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ Stack, Liam; Bayoumy, Lara (6 December 2023). "Gazans Find Scant Aid at Village Where They Were Advised to Relocate". The New York Times.
- ^ Zhou, Li (2023-12-06). "An "apocalyptic" humanitarian situation in Gaza is only getting worse". Vox. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ Berger, Miriam; Loveluck, Louisa (12 February 2024). "Panic mounts in Rafah over looming Israeli offensive after night strikes". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "Until Gaza is free from Hamas 'it will not be safe', says Israeli government spokesman". Channel 4 News. 2024-02-12. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
- ^ Burke, Jason (21 August 2024). "People in Gaza forced to stay in areas at risk of Israeli attack as 'safe zone' full". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ Frankel, Julia. "Israeli evacuation orders cram Palestinians into shrinking 'humanitarian zone' where food is scarce". Associated Press. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ "Israel designates Al-Mawasi a safe zone in Gaza. Palestinians and aid groups say it offers little relief". South China Morning Post. Associated Press. 8 December 2023. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ Thomas, Merlyn (8 December 2023). "Al-Mawasi: Gaza humanitarian zone not humane, evacuees say". BBC. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Palestinians, aid groups say Israel-designated safe zone in Gaza offers little relief". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "UN: Although 'humanitarian zone', Al-Mawasi being shelled". The New Arab. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "'Focused and precise operations,' says Israel army chief". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ Mahmoud, Hani. "More death and destruction from overnight Israeli strikes". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "UN official describes lack of water, sanitation, food and medicine in southern Gaza". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Israeli army claims to kill 5 Palestinian fighters". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ Chao-Fong, Léonie; Lowe, Yohannes; Davies, Caroline; Fulton, Adam (22 January 2024). "Israeli troops have stormed al-Khair hospital and arrested medical staff - Gaza health ministry spokesperson". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "'My daughter beside me was burned', mother recounts Israeli attack on Khan Younis tent". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Another shelter camp set up in Mawasi, Khan Younis". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Six Palestinians killed in Khan Younis area as fighting rages". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Two injured in Khan Younis attack: Red Crescent". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ Mahmoud, Hani. "Al-Mawasi, a 'safe zone', attacked for third time by Israel". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Israeli air strike in southern Gaza kills family of human rights worker". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "Gaza health ministry says Israeli raid on tent kills 12". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "Israeli military says continuing 'precise operations' against fighters in al-Shifa". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Israel bombs houses in Rafah, at least three killed: Report". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Abu Azzoum, Tareq. "Situation in al-Mawasi 'extremely dangerous'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ Shurafa, Wafaa. "Israeli strikes on tent camps near Rafah kill at least 25 Palestinians, Gaza health officials say". PBS. Associated Press. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal. "Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 57, Palestinian health officials say". Reuters. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Salhani, Justin. "Why does Israel step up its attacks when Gaza ceasefire talks advance?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "At least 21 killed in Israeli attacks on tent camp near Gaza's Rafah". Al Jazeera. 28 May 2024.
- ^ "Video: Strike Kills Displaced Gazans in Al-Mawasi, Officials Say". The New York Times. 28 May 2024.
Video says "Al-Mawasi, Gaza, May 28" starting at the 0:02 mark.
- ^ Gadzo, Mersiha. "Israel's war on Gaza updates: Israeli strikes on al-Mawasi kill at least 90".
- ^ "Gaza Civil Defence Says 5 Killed In Israeli Strike On Displacement Camp". Barron's. Agence France Presse. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ "Israel kills dozens of displaced Palestinians in Gaza amid more evacuations". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "At least 40 killed in Israeli attack on al-Mawasi tent camp, officials say". September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Mccready, Alastair; Rasheed, Zaheena; Marsi, Federica; Gostoli, Ylenia; Uras, Umut; Najjar, Farah. "Israel's war on Gaza updates: Palestinian children, women among 19 killed". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-09-22.