Israel’s Rafah incursion to result in 'humanitarian disaster', UN Chief warns
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that Israel’s invasion of Gaza's southern city of Rafah would lead to an "epic humanitarian disaster."
"A massive ground attack in Rafah would lead to (an) epic humanitarian disaster and pull the plug on our efforts to support people as famine looms," Guterres said during a visit to Nairobi on Friday, noting that the situation in the city where nearly more than half of Gaza's population of 2.4 have sought shelter from Israeli strikes elsewhere in Gaza was "on a knife's edge."
His remarks come as the Israeli regime on Tuesday entered Rafah's eastern sector and seized control of Gaza’s side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, which is the main corridor for the transfer of aid into the besieged strip, despite widespread international opposition.
Guterres said "We are actively engaged with all involved for the resumption of the entry of life-saving supplies -- including desperately needed fuel -- through Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings."
With support from the Israeli regime, settlers obstruct and stop humanitarian aid convoys heading to Gaza, aiming to starve 2 million Palestinians in the region. pic.twitter.com/i73EgiEEG2
— Palestine Highlights (@PalHighlight) May 10, 2024
The UN chief also reiterated his calls for a ceasefire as representatives of both sides left Egypt on Thursday after two days of negotiations aimed at finalizing a truce deal.
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas said the Israeli regime rejected the ceasefire proposal put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, stressing that it stood by the proposal.
"Accordingly, the ball is now completely in the Israeli occupation's court," Hamas said early Friday.
The group said the proposal includes the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes, and a prisoner swap, with the aim of a “permanent ceasefire.”
Israel has long been opposed to the idea of a permanent ceasefire, saying its genocidal war on Gaza is aimed at destroying Hamas.
The regime launched the devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to Israel's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.
Since the start of the offensive, the Israeli attacks have killed at least 34,904 Palestinians and injured 78,514 others, as an estimated 10,000 Palestinians are believed to be buried under the rubble of buildings flattened by the regime's bombs.
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