Israel is reportedly setting up a complex system of checkpoints that will prevent men of "military age" from fleeing Rafah in preparation for its offensive on the southern Gaza border city, a senior western official familiar with Israel's military plans has told Middle East Eye on condition of anonymity.
The checkpoints are designed to allow some women and children to leave Rafah ahead of an expected Israeli offensive, but unarmed, civilian Palestinian men will likely be separated from their families and remain trapped in Rafah during the assault.
The previously unreported disclosure of Israel's construction of a ring of checkpoints around Rafah underscores how Israel is pushing ahead with plans to attack the city where over one million displaced Palestinians are sheltering in tents and makeshift camps.
The creation of gender-based checkpoints around Rafah would put a spotlight back on Israel's practice of stripping and forcibly detaining male Palestinian men and children, as it faces rising scrutiny in the West of its conduct in the war.
The rounding up of Palestinian males in Gaza and photographing them stripped to their underwear drew condemnation in December, with the US calling the images "deeply disturbing."
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
Can the safety of some justify the detention of others based on gender, in your opinion?
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
How do you think being separated from one's family under these circumstances would impact a person emotionally and psychologically?
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
Considering men are being detained while women and children are allowed to leave, what does this say about perceptions of threat based on gender?
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
If you had to decide, would you support the use of gender-specific checkpoints in conflict zones, and why?
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
How does the idea of separating families based on gender at checkpoints make you feel about personal freedoms and human rights?
