It's important to note that before the destruction of Rafah, it was declared as a safezone by Israel. People across the entire country were told to flee here. Just three months into this conflict, over one million refugees had to make this city their new home.

As a result of this, the Rafah offensive was heavily criticized and Israel was ordered to stop, by the United States, the ICJ, the EU, all EU member states independently, China, Australia, Brazil... [Source]

Was there any response when this red line was crossed? No, there were no (economic) sanctions or otherwise political consequences, despite this obvious human rights violation.

The refugee encampment in Rafah was specifically bombed as well. [Source]

Just last month the official safezone was changed again, into a much smaller and much more crammed area. The entire population of Gaza should move again into a space that could never support them and that is subject to change any time.

Abiding by these human rights violating orders is suicide. However, high up from our ivory tower, people are criticizing refugees of a country for not fleeing when they were told to do so. Blaming the victims for their death, as they could've always fled. In a debate in Germany I was even told that by continuing to stay in their home, these people support Hamas.

I have no words for such a sentiment; refugees deserve support no matter what.

Bellingcat ( @Bellingcat ) has also produced these visuals in order to compare and see the destruction of Rafah. I highly recommend their reporting on it:

Satellite Imagery Shows Vast Destruction in Rafah

Two thirds of all public infrastructure (also in Tall as Sultan) being destroyed, and the entire surrounding area flattened into a desert, does not count as a “major military operation” nor a crossing of any red lines!

In May, U.S. President Joe Biden set a “red line” for Israel during an interview with CNN. If the Israel Defense Forces went into Rafah’s population centres, such as Tall As Sultan, his administration was going to start limiting what weapons the U.S. would provide Israel. When asked about the red line days later, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken clarified that the president specifically referred to a “major military operation” in Rafah.

The Biden administration’s position has not changed since then. Bellingcat asked the US State Department whether the IDF had crossed any red lines but had not received an answer by the time of publication.

— @Bellingcat, Satellite Imagery Shows Vast Destruction in Rafah from August 27th 2024

@ErikUden

that's why i think the hamas-attack was deliberately not prevented
i mean, israel has one of if not the best intelligence on the planet and they couldn't prevent it?!
it was a perfect opportunity for ultra-nationalist netanyahu to get rid of gaza once and for all
i bet they will move in settlers as soon as they can