The international community remains concerned about the possible Israeli ground operation in Rafah. Australia, New Zealand and Canada issued a joint statement Thursday warning about the plan. The Secretary General of the Arab League called it “nonsense.”

Rafaha city on the border with Egypt, currently has about 1.3 million people, the majority of residents of the Palestinian enclave. However, as shelling of the city has intensified in recent days, some of them have decided to leave the city.

A few weeks ago, Ahmed, his wife and children took refuge in Rafah. They managed to rent a small apartment, which they shared with another family. Space was limited, but having a real home was a luxury as many displaced people were forced to live under tents.

But what little security Ahmed found in Rafah is gone. The fighting approached the city, and in turn the Israeli army withdrew from the center of the Gaza Strip. This week he finally decided to return home. A decision that is not made only by Ahmed.

After the exodus to the enclave’s southernmost city, many Palestinians are now returning to the northernmost cities. But the journey is difficult and risky, since the only rarely passable road is bombed.