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Palestine Atlas

Rafah

Basic Information

Type
City
Governorate
Rafah
Region
Gaza Strip

Overview

Rafah is an ancient city on the Egypt-Gaza border, first mentioned as Raphia in the 3rd century BCE where the Battle of Raphia was fought in 217 BCE between Ptolemy IV and Antiochus III — one of the largest battles of the ancient world. The city was divided in 1982 after the Egypt-Israel peace treaty and Camp David Accords, with the southern half remaining in Egypt and the northern half in Gaza. This division tore families apart and destroyed the city's economic coherence. Under the 2007-2023 blockade, Rafah became Gaza's lifeline — the Rafah Border Crossing was the only route to the outside world not controlled by Israel. A sophisticated tunnel economy developed under the border, with hundreds of tunnels bringing in everything from food and medicine to fuel and building materials. When the blockade was at its strictest (2007-2010), these tunnels were the primary source of consumer goods for Gaza's 2.3 million people. During the 2023-2026 war, Rafah became the last refuge for over 1.4 million displaced Palestinians — more than half of Gaza's population crowded into an area of 64 sq km. In early 2024, Israel launched a ground offensive into Rafah, destroying the border crossing, collapsing tunnels, and causing mass casualties among the displaced population sheltering there.

Historical Significance

Ancient city, site of Battle of Raphia (217 BCE); divided border city since 1982; tunnel economy hub under blockade; sole Gaza crossing to Egypt; became shelter for 1.4 million displaced Palestinians during 2023-2026 war; devastated by Israeli offensive 2024

Sources and record limitations

Source detail varies by record. Some entries include document and page references; others supply source names only. Check the cited material and the record's limitations before relying on a specific claim.

  • PCBS 2017 Census
  • UNRWA Rafah Camp Profile
  • UN OCHA Gaza Strip Reports
  • B'Tselem - Rafah Border and Buffer Zone
  • Human Rights Watch - Rafah Offensive 2024
  • Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement
  • Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
  • ARIJ
  • Wikipedia
  • Britannica

Population figures for 2023-2024 include the largest displacement in Palestinian history. The city was transformed from a border town of 200,000 into a displacement zone of 1.4 million, then invaded and destroyed. The 1982 division remains a defining trauma for Rafah's residents.