Palestinian factions have issued a joint statement condemning the recent Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) invasion of Rafah, particularly highlighting the destruction of the Rafah crossing and the closure of the Karem Abu Salem crossing.

IOF actions, they assert, amount to a humanitarian catastrophe impacting 2.5 million Palestinian citizens in Gaza, with particular concern for over 1.5 million forcibly displaced individuals, including 400,000 recently forced to flee from areas previously deemed "safe".

The closure of vital crossings and the execution of military operations in Rafah are seen as indicative of the occupation's intent to perpetrate further atrocities and cause a humanitarian catastrophe, as per the statement.

"This includes severing crucial supply lines for food, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid, potentially resulting in the deaths of thousands, including the wounded, cancer patients, women, and children," it added.

In their joint statement, the Palestinian factions called for immediate international intervention to prevent further loss of life and to address what they describe as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

They urge for concerted international, regional, and popular efforts to halt the ongoing genocide and to hold the Israeli occupation accountable for its actions in international courts.

Furthermore, the call is made for increased Resistance against the Zionist occupation and its supporters until the aggression against the Palestinian people ceases. 

Israeli invasion of Rafah border: A dangerous escalation 

In the same context, Hamas issued a statement that described the invasion of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt today as a dangerous escalation against a civilian area protected by international law. The move, condemned by Palestinian factions, is seen as a bid to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip by restricting the flow of essential relief aid to its besieged population, as per the statement.

The invasion follows closely on the heels of Hamas' announcement of its agreement to the proposal by mediators, raising questions about the Israeli government's commitment to ceasefire efforts and the release of Israeli captives, it added.

The statement further stressed that "these actions serve the personal interests of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his administration, while obstructing international mediation efforts and implementing the plan of genocide and forcible displacement pursued by the extreme Zionist right led by the war criminal Netanyahu."

Hamas has also called on the US administration and the broader international community to intervene, warning that the escalation poses a grave threat to the lives of hundreds of thousands of forcibly displaced civilians not only in Rafah but throughout the Gaza Strip.

Read more: Explainer: The three-phase agreement Hamas has agreed to