Satellite Images Shows 1.5 Million Palestinians Now Shelter in Rafah

 Some 1.5 million Palestinians are estimated to be now living in Rafah (Reuters)
Some 1.5 million Palestinians are estimated to be now living in Rafah (Reuters)
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Satellite Images Shows 1.5 Million Palestinians Now Shelter in Rafah

 Some 1.5 million Palestinians are estimated to be now living in Rafah (Reuters)
Some 1.5 million Palestinians are estimated to be now living in Rafah (Reuters)

Satellite images revealed on Saturday the growing number of Palestinians sheltering in the southern Gaza border town of Rafah since the past October 7 attack.

Two photos, taken by the US company Planet Labs on Jan. 14 and Feb. 4, reveal that lands covered with trees have turned into a city of tents hosting the internally displaced Palestinians.

Roughly 80% of Gaza’s people have been displaced, and the territory has plunged into a humanitarian crisis with shortages of food and medical services.

Rafah is normally home to 280,000 people. But its population has swelled to over 1.4 million as Palestinians flee fighting, destruction and hunger elsewhere in the territory, according to the UN.

More than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are packed into Rafah, many after following Israeli evacuation orders that now cover two-thirds of the territory.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had asked the military to plan for the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people there ahead of a ground invasion.

Netanyahu did not provide details or a timeline, but the announcement set off panic and warnings from diplomats, AP said.

On Sunday, the bodies of 58 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes arrived to Abu Youssef Al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, according to the Palestinian Shehab News agency.

In a related development, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it was denied a mission Saturday to the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, which has been besieged and coming under Israeli fire for three weeks.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO's director-general, said he was “deeply concerned about the safety of patients and health personnel due to the intensifying hostilities in the vicinity of the hospital.”



Türkiye Intensifies Steps to Establish Air Base East of Homs

Turkish-made Hisar air defense system (Turkish Defense Industries website). 
Turkish-made Hisar air defense system (Turkish Defense Industries website). 
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Türkiye Intensifies Steps to Establish Air Base East of Homs

Turkish-made Hisar air defense system (Turkish Defense Industries website). 
Turkish-made Hisar air defense system (Turkish Defense Industries website). 

Türkiye is accelerating preparations to establish an airbase in the city of Palmyra, east of Homs, following an announcement by its Ministry of Defense last week that it is considering a request from the Syrian administration in Damascus to set up a base for training purposes.

Reports indicate that Turkish military convoys carrying equipment entered northern Syria overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, likely transporting logistical supplies and gear to the “T4” airbase in Palmyra.

The pro-government Turkish newspaper “Türkiye” reported on Wednesday that the country has taken official steps to take control of the Tiyas Military Airbase—also known as Tiyas Airport, T4 Airbase —located near the village of Tiyas, about 60 kilometers east of Palmyra in Homs province.

According to the report, Türkiye plans to establish a multi-layered air defense system at the base, incorporating domestically produced weapons. Additionally, Ankara intends to deploy reconnaissance drones and armed UAVs with advanced strike capabilities. The goal is to enhance the country’s counterterrorism efforts against ISIS while also deterring potential Israeli airstrikes in the region.

Some sources suggest that Türkiye may also consider deploying the Russian S-400 air defense system, which it acquired in the summer of 2019.

Retired Turkish Brigadier General Fahri Erenel stated that Ankara plans to take significant steps in Syria in April. He mentioned that after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a defense agreement was negotiated with the Syrian interim government. Under this agreement, Türkiye would provide air support and military protection to the new Syrian administration.

Israeli Concerns

Israel is deeply concerned about Türkiye’s growing cooperation with Damascus and its efforts to expand its military presence in Syria.

An Israeli security official, speaking to The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday, described the potential establishment of a Turkish military base in Syria as a “possible threat” to Israel. The official, whose name was not disclosed, warned that a Turkish airbase in Syria would undermine Israel’s operational freedom and was therefore something Tel Aviv opposed.

On Friday, the Israeli military announced that it had targeted what it described as “strategic military capabilities” at Syrian army bases in Palmyra and the T4 airbase. The Israeli official indicated that the strike on T4 was a message that Israel would not tolerate any obstacles to its air operations in Syria.