United Nations/Prensa Latina
The Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, today urged the Israeli Government to stop the escalation in Rafah given the risk faced by humanitarian operations concentrated in that Gaza governorate.
The head of the United Nations warned that the closure of the border crossing with Egypt located in that area is especially harmful while the situation is already terrible.
In that sense, he announced that the lack of access could cause a total fuel shortage for humanitarian operations tonight.
The high representative reiterated his call to Tel Aviv and Hamas to spare no effort to reach an agreement that will stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and help stabilize a region that is still at risk of explosion.
A large-scale attack on Rafah would be a human catastrophe, the veteran diplomat insisted in an address to the press a few hours after the Israeli Defense Forces took control of the Rafah crossing.
Among other consequences, the head of the UN announced that an escalation in that area could leave countless civilian victims and displaced families.
Rafah is the epicenter of humanitarian operations in Gaza, he added, an attack there will further impact efforts to support people in desperate humanitarian situations as a famine looms.
“International humanitarian law is unequivocal: civilians must be protected, whether they leave Rafah or stay in the city,” Guterres stressed, calling on both sides to respect international law.
At the same time, he reminded Israel of its obligation to facilitate safe and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid and personnel to and through Gaza.
“Even Israel’s best friends are clear: an assault on Rafah would be a strategic error, a political calamity and a humanitarian nightmare,” he said, insisting on the need to apply pressure to avoid more tragedies.
“The international community has a shared responsibility to promote a humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and a massive increase in life-saving aid,” he emphasized.
The Secretary General’s statements coincide with the seizure of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing by the Israeli Army amid tensions over the deployment of a broader offensive.
Tel Aviv forces confirmed that they control the area after the aircraft launched more than 50 bombing raids against various sites in the governorate.
A day earlier, the Israelis dropped leaflets from the air and sent text messages asking the population to evacuate several neighborhoods despite pressure from the UN and the international community to avoid a larger conflagration.
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