The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, made a heartfelt plea to Israel on Saturday, urging them “in the name of humanity” not to launch an assault on Rafah, where Gaza’s majority population seeks refuge.
Expressing grave concerns over reports of Israel’s intended ground assault, Tedros emphasized the potential for further violence escalation leading to increased casualties and suffering.
Stressing the importance of working towards peace, he implored Israel to refrain from proceeding with the assault, stating that the planned evacuation by the Israeli army was not a viable solution due to the lack of safe relocation options for Rafah’s 1.2 million inhabitants.
Tedros highlighted the absence of fully functional and secure health facilities elsewhere in Gaza, underscoring the vulnerability of the population, particularly those who are fragile, hungry, and unwell, to endure further displacement.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the military’s plans for action in Rafah, although specifics and a timeline were not disclosed in Friday’s statement.
The United Nations and the United States have repeatedly cautioned against such a military operation, echoing Tedros’ concerns about exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Netanyahu, who has vowed to continue the war in recent weeks, reiterated his commitment to retaliate against Hamas following the October 7 attack, which resulted in approximately 1,160 deaths in Israel, predominantly civilians, according to official figures.
In response, Israel has unleashed relentless bombardments and initiated a ground invasion, resulting in the deaths of at least 31,553 people in Gaza, with the majority being women and children, according to the health ministry.
