Aid agencies warn that an Israeli military operation in the city of Rafah would be disastrous for the civilian population. Human Rights Watch, Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children, among others, express their concerns about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intention to prepare an operation in that city.
“It is difficult to imagine that the situation for the people of Gaza could get any worse after the past four months, but if Israeli forces expand to Rafah, what happens will exceed our worst nightmares,” said Pim Kraan, director of Save the Children Netherlands.
Doctors Without Borders speaks of ‘a disaster’ for the civilian population. Netanyahu wants a plan to be made for the evacuation of the more than million people who live there, but according to the organization they have nowhere to go. “Nowhere is safe in Gaza and repeated forced displacements have driven people to Rafah, where they are trapped on a tiny piece of land, with no options.”
Human Rights Watch warns the Israeli government that it would be a war crime to force the civilian population to leave. People who stay behind must also be protected, the organization notes. “Numerous citizens may be unable to heed a warning to evacuate due to their health, disability, fear or lack of a place to go.”
More than half of Gaza’s residents remain in Rafah after large parts of the rest of the area were attacked by Israel. Due to its location near Egypt, it is also an important transit point for aid supplies. Yet that city is also under fire. Israel says it must eliminate Hamas battalions in Rafah. The UN and the US have also expressed their concerns about a possible attack. (AP)
2024-02-11 01:30:00
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