United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a plea to Israel, urging the nation to refrain from launching a military assault on southern Gaza’s Rafah city.
This call comes in the midst of escalating tensions, with international concern rising over the devastating impact of the conflict and diplomatic efforts intensifying to broker a ceasefire.
Guterres emphasized the catastrophic consequences of such an operation, warning that it could result in the loss of thousands of civilian lives and the displacement of hundreds of thousands more.
In a statement to reporters, Guterres underscored the potential devastation that a military assault on Rafah would inflict on the Palestinian population in Gaza and beyond, including in the occupied West Bank and the wider region.
He highlighted the unanimous opposition from members of the Security Council and numerous governments to such an offensive, calling on all parties with influence over Israel to prevent it from proceeding.
The UN chief’s appeal comes in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that the Israeli army will proceed with a ground offensive in Rafah, regardless of whether a truce deal with the Palestinian movement Hamas, also known as Al-Siraj al-Din, is reached.
Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to dismantling Hamas and vowed to continue the military campaign until all objectives are achieved.
Rafah has emerged as a haven for Palestinians fleeing the relentless bombardment by Israeli forces since the outbreak of the conflict on October 7, triggered by a deadly attack launched by Hamas on Israel.
Despite calls for restraint and efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, Netanyahu remains resolute in his determination to eliminate Hamas’s presence in Rafah.
Guterres reiterated his urgent appeal for both Israel and Hamas to immediately agree to a ceasefire, emphasizing the critical need for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, including through the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
He warned that without such measures, the conflict and its devastating repercussions are poised to escalate further, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and destabilizing the broader region.
