GENEVA: The United Nations sounded the alarm on Monday, expressing deep concern over the looming possibility of a full-scale Israeli invasion into the densely populated Rafah town of Gaza Strip. UN human rights chief Volker Turk described the potential assault as “terrifying” and warned of an “extremely high” number of Palestinian casualties, particularly among civilians, if such an operation were to occur.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declarations of intent to send ground troops into the crowded Rafah area as part of efforts to eliminate Palestinian resistance have raised international alarm. The UN has called on world powers to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation of the situation.
Turk emphasized the dire humanitarian consequences of a potential invasion, noting that Rafah’s population of approximately 1.5 million Palestinians is already facing severe constraints due to their proximity to the Egyptian border and lack of options for escape. He expressed concern that such an operation could lead to a catastrophic loss of civilian lives, including many children and women.
Moreover, Turk warned of the potential disruption of humanitarian aid efforts in Rafah, exacerbating the already dire situation in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands are at risk of starvation and famine.
Highlighting the ongoing violations of international law in the region, Turk stressed the need for accountability and urged immediate action to prevent further atrocities. He called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, and renewed efforts to reach a political solution to the conflict.
“The world must not allow this to happen,” Turk declared, urging those with influence to restrain rather than enable the situation to escalate further. He emphasized the importance of collective action to avert a humanitarian catastrophe and uphold the principles of international law and human rights.
EU Calls on Israel Allies to Stop Weapon Supplies
Earlier, European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, urged Israel’s allies, notably the United States, to stop supplying it with weapons due to the escalating casualties in Gaza.
Borrell’s call comes in the wake of US President Joe Biden’s recent acknowledgment that Israel’s military actions in Gaza were excessive, echoing concerns over the high toll of Palestinian civilian casualties.
During a news conference in Brussels alongside Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Borrell emphasized the urgency of addressing the mounting humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He underscored the need for a reassessment of arms shipments to Israel to prevent further loss of life.
In a pointed critique, Borrell also condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s directive to evacuate over one million Palestinians from the Gaza city of Rafah ahead of an impending military operation. Questioning the feasibility of such an evacuation, Borrell challenged the proposed relocation, asking, “To the moon? Where are they going to evacuate these people?”
The ongoing Israeli bombardment in Gaza, which started on October 7, has resulted in a devastating toll, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting at least 28,064 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
On October 7, Israel launched a deadly offensive on Gaza that killed at least 28,064 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 67,611 following a surprise attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.
The Israeli offensive has left 85 percent of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of clean water, food, and medicine, while 60 percent of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.
