Dutch PM calls on 'Israel' not to invade Rafah

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Feb 2024 06:03
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Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte emphasizes in a meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu the need to reduce the number of civilian casualties in Gaza.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh (R) meets with his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte in the West Bank city of Ramallah on February 12, 2024. (Photo by MOHAMAD TOROKMAN / POOL / AFP)

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte urged on Monday the Israeli occupation government not to launch a ground invasion into the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on the border with Egypt.

Rutte visited occupied al-Quds, where he met with Israeli occupation Benjamin Netanyahu. He also held talks with his Palestinian counterpart Mohammad Shtayyeh.

"We are extremely concerned about Israel's announcement of a large-scale offensive on Rafah. We think this could lead to a humanitarian disaster ... Our message is: don't do this, don't launch a large-scale ground offensive on Rafah under the current circumstances," Rutte said on air of Dutch broadcaster NOS.

The Dutch Prime Minister, in a conversation with Netanyahu, emphasized the need to reduce the number of civilian casualties in Gaza and asked the Israeli premier to allow more humanitarian aid into the Strip.

This comes at a time when a ground invasion of the city of Rafah looms, as Netanyahu told troops to prepare for an offensive in the southern city, which now hosts more than half of Gaza's total population.

Foreign governments, including "Israel's" key ally the United States, and aid groups have voiced deep concern over Netanyahu's plan.

US President Joe Biden spoke to Netanyahu on the phone Sunday and told him the Rafah offensive should not go ahead in the absence of a "credible" plan to ensure "the safety" of people sheltering there, the White House said.

About 1.4 million Palestinians have crowded into Rafah, with many living in tents while food, water and medicine are becoming increasingly scarce.

It is noteworthy that Egypt has threatened to dissolve its normalization agreement with "Israel" if the occupation deploys condensed forces along its border with the Gazan city of Rafah.

Two Egyptian officials and a Western diplomat stated on Sunday that in case "Israel" makes the move, Egypt would be forced to block the Rafah crossing, currently the only humanitarian corridor that is supplying Gaza with relief aid.

This comes a day after Cairo sent warnings to "Israel" regarding their diplomatic relations - that may cease in case the Israeli forces launch a full-scale invasion of the city of Rafah, according to The Wall Street Journal.

"Any ground operation in Rafah would lead to an immediate suspension of the peace treaty between the two countries," the report indicated, citing sources.

The officials told the WSJ that a delegation from Cairo recently paid a visit to Israeli counterparts in "Tel Aviv" to specifically discuss the situation in Rafah.

"Israeli officials are trying to get Egypt to agree on some cooperation regarding the ground invasion, which Egyptian officials are resisting," the officials mentioned.