Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Rafah after the Israel Defense Forces ordered evacuations. Strikes in the southern Gazan city killed more than a dozen people on Saturday, according to hospital officials.

Many of those leaving Rafah are being told to move to places that are already crowded with displaced people and facing an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis. It comes as Egypt says it will not coordinate with Israel on aid entering Gaza through the Rafah crossing, an official told Egypt’s state-run media Al-Qahera News.

Here’s what to know to get up to speed:

Rafah evacuations: At least 300,000 people have moved away from Rafah as a result of what the Israeli military calls the “current temporary evacuation” from the southernmost Gazan city, the Israel Defense Forces says. The United Nations and humanitarian groups estimate that somewhere between 1.2 and 1.4 million people were living in the Rafah area before the Israeli operation in the eastern part of the city began.

Strikes in Rafah: At least 15 people were killed in an airstrike and artillery strike in Rafah, according to officials at the Kuwait Hospital, where the bodies were brought on Saturday. Artillery shelling hit the Al-Salam neighborhood in eastern Rafah, while an airstrike hit a building in Al-Hashasheen neighborhood in western Rafah.
In the north: The Israeli military is carrying out strikes against militants in northern Gaza’s Jabalya, spokesperson Daniel Hagari said. Israeli forces dropped leaflets Saturday morning ordering residents in several areas in northern Gaza to evacuate, according to residents. Hagari said the military is targeting militant infrastructure in the Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia areas. Fleeing Palestinians who’ve been displaced multiple times told CNN they are scared for their lives and have nowhere safe to go.

Journalists in Gaza: At least 143 journalists have been killed since October 7 after the death of photojournalist Bahaa Okasha overnight, according to the Government Media Office in Gaza. Many journalists have moved to Rafah as the conflict has ravaged the enclave. Now, like the displaced population, some are saying they have nowhere to go and they are not sure if they can continue their work.
Stifled recovery operations: The Civil Defense in Gaza said it estimates about 10,000 bodies are trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings in Gaza. The group called on more equipment to be used to retrieve the bodies to be allowed to enter Gaza. On Saturday, Gaza’s health ministry said 28 people were killed over the past 24 hours, and at least 34,971 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7.

Hostage killed: The Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claimed that one of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza died more than a month ago. It said Nadav Popplewell, a dual British-Israeli citizen, had died of wounds he sustained after an Israeli airstrike hit the place where he was held. The IDF declined to comment. The UK Foreign Office said it is seeking more information. Protesters in several cities in Israel are calling for the release of hostages ahead of the country’s Memorial Day.
Ceasefire negotiations: US President Joe Biden said there would be a “ceasefire tomorrow” if Hamas would release the hostages held in Gaza. It comes after Israeli and Hamas negotiating teams left Cairo without a deal earlier this week.

Humanitarian aid: Egypt is refusing to coordinate with Israel regarding the Rafah crossing because of security concerns, Egypt’s state-run media Al-Qahera News said on Saturday, citing a senior official. Egypt has warned Israel that this might halt the flow of humanitarian trucks into Gaza until Israel withdraws its tanks and forces from Rafah, an Egyptian official told CNN on Saturday.

Source: CNN