GAZA - As Muslims across the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr with joy and family gatherings, the residents of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, face yet another wave of displacement, fleeing their homes under intensified Israeli military operations.

On Monday, the Israeli army issued new evacuation orders for large areas of Rafah, affecting tens of thousands of people. Yet, for many families, there is nowhere safe to go. The coastal area of al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, is already overcrowded with displaced people and lacks adequate shelter, food, and medical supplies.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes and shelling continue across Gaza, with 80 bodies and 305 injuries recorded in local hospitals over the past 48 hours, according to Gaza-based health authorities.

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Carrying bags and essential belongings, displaced families navigate the unpaved roads in Rafah, their expressions marked by exhaustion and despair.

Among them is Amina Harb, who had only recently returned to her damaged home before being forced to flee again. Holding a small bundle of belongings, she guided her young son through the crowded streets.

"He kept asking me if we could visit his grandmother for Eid, but we were running for our lives instead. This is not a holiday; it is another day of survival," the exhausted woman told Xinhua.

Nearby, 68-year-old Fadel al-Khatib, who has been displaced multiple times since the war began on Oct 7, 2023, sat beside a small bag.

"The Israeli army keeps telling us to move, but where can we go? The world celebrates Eid while we search for safety," he said.

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Before the war, Eid al-Fitr in Rafah was marked by bustling markets, the aroma of festive sweets, and children excitedly showing off their new clothes. Families gathered for traditional meals, and the streets were alive with celebrations.

This year, the scene is one of devastation. Empty storefronts stand amid the rubble, and once-lively neighborhoods are eerily silent, except for the distant echoes of bombardment.

Ten-year-old Yasmin al-Sawarka, clutching her younger brother's hand, spoke softly: "I used to get new shoes and play outside with my cousins on Eid. We don't have a home now, and my parents say we must leave again."

"But this time, we don't even know where we are going. Every place we flee becomes unsafe, and we are forced to keep moving," she lamented.

Nearby, Mahmoud al-Najjar, a father of four, looked at his children with sadness. "Eid is meant to be a time for joy, but how can we celebrate when our children are hungry, when we have no roof over our heads, and when every day brings more loss?" he said.

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Palestinian officials have condemned the evacuation orders, warning of an escalating Palestinian officials have condemned the evacuation orders, warning of an escalating humanitarian crisis..

Gaza interior authorities stated that "Israel's orders to completely clear Rafah under ongoing bombardment signal further crimes against civilians," calling for urgent international intervention.

They also held Israel accountable for the deteriorating situation and urged global institutions to take legal action, accusing Israel of committing war crimes against civilians in Gaza.