As indications of an impending Israeli military operation in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, increase, the French Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s assistant, Christophe Le Moine, stated that France opposes any Israeli military operation in Rafah, considering it a turning point in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Le Moine described to “Al Arabiya/Al Hadath” that the current humanitarian situation in the sector is catastrophic and extremely fragile.
He emphasized, “It is crucial to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible that would allow for an end to the fighting, and particularly to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid, which the residents of Gaza currently need.”
He added that this situation explains President Emmanuel Macron’s recent expression of grave concern over the potential for an operation in Rafah.
Preparation for Rafah Invasion:
Earlier today, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation announced that the Israeli military is significantly expanding the safe zone in the Gaza Strip.
This step was taken in preparation for a ground military operation in the city of Rafah.
The corporation added that this area would extend from Mawasi to Nuseirat, where this space could accommodate about one million displaced people, and five field hospitals have been established there.
This follows the Israeli military spokesperson, Daniel Hagari’s statement yesterday, Sunday, that the Chief of Staff had approved plans to continue operations on the southern front in the Gaza Strip, weeks after discussions about a plan regarding the invasion of Rafah.
This comes while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been hinting for some time at launching a ground attack on the city of Rafah in the far south of Gaza, where more than 1.5 million people have taken refuge, asserting the necessity to do so to eliminate the last major stronghold of the Hamas movement, he claims.
Meanwhile, NGOs and foreign representations reject this attack, expressing fears of a large number of civilian casualties.
The recent developments in the Gaza war, which erupted on October 7, 2023, have been marked by escalating violence and a significant humanitarian crisis. The conflict began with a large-scale attack by Hamas, leading to an intensive military response from Israel.
As of recent reports, the situation in Gaza is dire, with a reported death toll of over 34,000 Palestinians and around 1,139 Israelis since the conflict began. The Israeli military has expanded its ground operations in the Gaza Strip, particularly focusing on areas like Rafah in an effort to dismantle Hamas’s capabilities, including their extensive tunnel network.
