Al Brazil Is Being Invaded Now
The situation in Rafah has intensified further still. At midnight, yet another area of Rafah was invaded by the Israeli
army. This time it was the Al Brazil refugee camp, again situated along the border with Egypt. It is a continuation of
the previous raids on Yibnah and Block J, and the ongoing operation in Hay Salaam.
The army has advanced at least 400 metres deep into the area, with 65 tanks as well as a number of bulldozers and APC's.
Two Apache helicopters were also deployed. One Palestinian man has been reported killed. Four people have been injured.
The local hospital was already desperately overstretched. Now it will have reached crisis point.
Further details are not yet known. It is extremely difficult to know what is happening inside the area due to the
severity of the lock-down. No-one can even approach, due to the threat from Israeli snipers. The streets surrounding the
occupied area are deserted.
Israeli tanks are reported to be assembling on the border near an area called Tel Zorob. This is the on the opposite
side of Rafah to where the army is currently operating in Hay Salaam and Al Brazil. Local residents are terrified this
area will be invaded next. Fear is also mounting among the residents of the Salah-El-Deen area of Rafah. This is also
situated on the border. It is also not inconceivable that the IOF will return to the Yibnah refugee camp, the scene of
last weekend's devastation.
Last night Rafah's main transformer, located in Al Brazil by the Rachel Corrie Nursery School, was shot at and damaged.
The entire city has been experiencing a power blackout since 2 a.m. this morning.
The international media is not reporting the plight of Rafah's civilian population. International governments are not
condemning Israel's actions. Support from the UN Relief and Works Agency is limited. This is an emergency. Urgent action
must be taken immediately.