DOHA: The Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, said on Monday that there is no political will to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli military operations on the ground.
Al-Khulaifi’s remarks come in the wake of Israel’s renewed military operations in central and northern Gaza, with intentions to expand its offensive into Rafah, despite warnings from the United States about the potential for significant civilian casualties.
Gaza medics reported at least 23 persons of a family were killed during heavy bombardment in Jabalia, a northern enclave of Gaza. Israeli tanks have also entered into areas near Deir Al-Balah.
According to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), over 810,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced by Israel’s military offensive in Rafah alone. The agency has called for an urgent ceasefire amid a dire humanitarian situation.
“The exodus continues in #Gaza. @UNRWA estimates over 810,000 people have fled #Rafah in the past two weeks,” the agency said on X. “Every time families are displaced, their lives are at serious risk. People are forced to leave everything behind looking for safety. But there’s no safe zone,” it added, and called for a cease-fire in the enclave.
The ongoing violence has inflicted immense suffering on the people of Gaza, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. With more than 35,400 Palestinians killed since October 7, and widespread destruction of infrastructure, the enclave has been reduced to rubble, leaving its inhabitants grappling with acute shortages of basic necessities.
Israeli brutalities also triggered a trial at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in January ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide, and take measures to guarantee humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
On May 6, Israeli forces launched an attack on Rafah, ignoring all regional and international warnings about its consequences for civilians who had taken refuge in the city.
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