As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterates the necessity of an incursion into Rafah, located in southern Gaza, to eliminate Hamas, the United Nations has renewed its warnings about the situation.
Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, expressed concerns today about the potential for evacuating residents of Rafah if no ceasefire agreement is reached this week amidst ongoing Egypt-mediated talks between Israel and Hamas.
During a press conference in Geneva on Tuesday, Lazzarini noted that Israeli forces have not yet requested the Palestinian evacuees to leave Rafah, despite Netanyahu’s claims that evacuation procedures had begun.
Food Supplies Remain Insufficient in Gaza
Lazzarini also highlighted the challenges and obstacles still facing the delivery of aid into the besieged area. “There are difficulties facing aid convoys in Gaza,” he stated. He acknowledged that while more food supplies became available in Gaza during April, they are still insufficient to meet the needs.
Calls for Independent Investigation
The UN official also called for an independent investigation into the deaths of agency workers and how they were handled post-ceasefire.
Netanyahu’s Firm Stance on Rafah Operation
Netanyahu has emphasized that Israel “will carry out its operation against Hamas in Rafah whether an agreement regarding the hostages is reached or not.” He maintains that “the idea of ending the war before achieving our objectives is not an option,” as reported by the Israeli news site Ynet.
Furthermore, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced last Saturday that Israel “might delay the planned incursion into Rafah if an agreement to release the Israeli hostages is reached.”
International Concerns Over Rafah Incursion
Many UN organizations and relief agencies, along with most Western countries, including the United States, Israel’s primary ally, have expressed concerns about the potential incursion into Rafah, home to over two million Palestinians displaced from various parts of northern and central Gaza.
Repeated UN affirmations state that there is no safe place in the entire Gaza Strip for the people of Rafah, while satellite images have shown hundreds of white tents set up in Khan Younis.
This article highlights the escalating tensions and the complex humanitarian and political challenges facing the region as international efforts to broker peace continue.
