Rafah was founded in the 15th century by the Mamluks. It was a small village until the early 20th century, when it began to grow as a result of the influx of Palestinian refugees from the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The population of Rafah has continued to grow, and today it is home to over 150,000 people.
Rafah has been the scene of violence and conflict on several occasions. The city was the site of the 1956 Rafah massacre, in which Israeli forces killed over 100 Egyptian soldiers and Palestinian civilians. Rafah was also the site of the 2004 Rafah shootout, in which Hamas militants killed several Israeli soldiers.
In 2014, Rafah was the scene of fierce fighting during the Gaza War. The Israeli military launched a series of airstrikes and ground attacks on Rafah, causing widespread destruction and killing dozens of civilians. The war ended with a ceasefire, but Rafah remains a tense and volatile area.
Rafah is also the site of the Rafah Border Crossing, which is the only crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The crossing is controlled by the Egyptian military, and is often closed due to security concerns. The closure of the crossing has caused a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, as it has prevented people from traveling to Egypt for medical treatment and other essential services.
Rafah is a city that has been shaped by violence and conflict. However, it is also a city with a rich history and a vibrant culture. The people of Rafah are resilient and determined, and are working to build a better future for their city and for themselves.
The situation in Rafah is a humanitarian crisis. The closure of the Rafah Border Crossing has caused a shortage of food, medicine, and other essential supplies in the Gaza Strip. The people of Rafah need our help. We can donate to humanitarian organizations that are working in the Gaza Strip, and we can call on our governments to pressure Egypt to open the Rafah Border Crossing.