Israel's planned Rafah invasion ‘completely unacceptable’: European Commission chief

The president of the European Commission has expressed opposition to Israel’s planned ground invasion of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, denouncing the possible imminent attack as "completely unacceptable."

Ursula von der Leyen made the remarks on Tuesday, after Israel said it had approved final plans for the phased invasion of Rafah despite growing international opposition.

It would be “completely unacceptable” for Israel to attack Rafah, she said, adding that the EU Commission would “sit down” with its member states and “act on that” if Israel invaded Rafah.

Von der Leyen also noted, "I’m never drawing red lines, but I think it would be completely unacceptable if (Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu would invade," in response to a question whether attacking Rafah would constitute "a red line" and result in EU sanctions against Israel.

The European Commission chief further described as “unbearable” and “unacceptable” the situation in Rafah, while recalling her visit to the city.

She also reiterated her call for a ceasefire in Gaza and the so-called two-state solution as "the only solution that will bring peace to the region.”  

Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah ‘with or without ceasefire deal’

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to arrive in Israel to advance truce talks.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu pledged to carry out the planned ground invasion of Rafah, whether or not a ceasefire and a swap deal is reached with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

His remarks came after the Israeli military’s chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, said the military had approved final plans for the phased invasion of Rafah as well as the refugee camps in the central part of Gaza in the next 72 hours.

Rafah, situated in the Gaza Strip’s closed southern border with Egypt, is home to around 1.5 million Palestinians who have been displaced due to Israel’s ongoing genocidal campaign in the besieged territory.

Israel had designated Rafah a “safe zone,” but in recent months it has been threatening a full-scale military aggression, leaving the people sheltering there terrified with nowhere to go.

The assault has mounted fears over a new carnage against Palestinians and drawn global condemnations.

Israel to launch Rafah invasion if no deal reached on captives in 72 hours: Report

Israel finalizes plans to invade the densely-populated southern Gaza city of Rafah in the next 72 hours.

Humanitarian catastrophe

Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Israel would set off a “humanitarian disaster” if it goes ahead with a military assault on Rafah.

"A full scale invasion on Rafah would be a humanitarian catastrophe," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X. "We appeal to Israel not to proceed. We urge all parties to work for a ceasefire and lasting peace."

Israel began its brutal onslaught on October 7 after Hamas carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Since then, the regime has killed over 34,500 Palestinians, , including 14,500 children, in Gaza and nearly 490, including 124 children, in the occupied West Bank..

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