The international community has expressed disdain after Israel continued with its threat to invade the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip.
This despite calls by many, including Israel’s staunch supporters, not to sent troops to Rafah, which is currently home to more than 1 million Palestinians refugees who fled the Israeli defence onslaught in the Gaza Strip.
“Rafah is the epicenter of humanitarian operations in Gaza. Attacking Rafah will further upend our efforts to support people in dire humanitarian straits as famine looms. International humanitarian law is unequivocal, civilians must be protected, whether they leave Rafah or stay in the city. Make no mistake, a full-scale assault on Rafah would be a human catastrophe.
“Countless more civilian casualties, countless more families forced to flee yet again, with nowhere safe to go. Because there is no safe place in Gaza,” warned United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.
Guterres comments also come as the on and off peace talks continued in Cairo, Egypt, which he described as a “decisive moment for the Palestinian and Israeli people and for the fate of the entire region.”
He said an agreement between Israel and Hamas is essential to stop the unbearable suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and of the hostages and their families.
More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed, scores injured while thousands are still unaccounted for and feared to be buried under the rubbles since Israeli soldiers invaded Gaza last year October.
The Secretary General appealed to Israel best friends to convince it to withdraw from Rafah.
“An assault on Rafah would be a strategic mistake, a political calamity, and a humanitarian nightmare.
“I appeal to all those with influence over Israel to do everything in their power to help avert even more tragedy,” appealed Guterres.
Meanwhile, the US has paused weapons supply to Israel following its invasion of Rafah.
Washington says it fears that the weapons will be used to kill innocent civilians in Rafah.
“We’ve been very clear from the very beginning that Israel shouldn’t launch a major attack into Rafah without accounting for and protecting the civilians that are in that battle space.
And again, as we have assessed the situation, we have paused one shipment of high payload munitions,” said US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Meanwhile, the South African government has also joined other countries, to condemn Israel’s actions.
“This intended action amounts to forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza that is unlawful under international law and cannot be justified by any military imperative. The imminent military offensive in Rafah will erase the last refuge for surviving people in Gaza.
“Rafah has become a temporary shelter for Palestinians who have been forced to relocate there, with already limited access to food, medical care, and other services after months of bombardment by Israel of their homes in the rest of the Gaza Strip,” read a statement from the department of International Relations and Cooperation.
