On Tuesday, a warning was issued by the United Nations against an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, with concerns raised about the potential for a “slaughter” in the southern region of the Palestinian enclave, where over 1 million people seek shelter. Israel has expressed its intention to eliminate Hamas militants hiding in Rafah and free Israeli hostages, outlining plans for the evacuation of trapped Palestinian civilians.
“It is anticipated that military operations in Rafah could result in a slaughter in Gaza. They may also jeopardize an already precarious humanitarian operation,” cautioned U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths. He added, “Safety guarantees, aid supplies, and staff capacity needed to sustain this operation are lacking. The Government of Israel cannot continue to disregard these calls,” stated Griffiths in a released statement.
Despite talks involving the U.S., Egypt, Israel, and Qatar on a Gaza truce, no breakthrough was achieved on Tuesday. Pressure mounted for Israel to reconsider its planned Rafah assault.
Expressing hope for successful negotiations and avert an all-out offensive over Rafah, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters, “That would have devastating consequences.”
The conflict in Hamas-run Gaza began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, resulting in 1,200 casualties and 253 hostages, according to Israeli counts. In retaliation, Israel initiated a military assault on Gaza, reportedly causing over 28,000 Palestinian casualties, with thousands more feared lost in the ruins, according to health authorities.
Over half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population is sheltering in Rafah, many near the border fence with Egypt, residing in makeshift tents. Griffiths highlighted their dire situation, stating, “They are staring death in the face, with little to eat, limited access to medical care, nowhere to sleep, and nowhere safe to go. Our humanitarian response has been in tatters for weeks.”
Comments