The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates issued a statement Monday in which it urged the global community to end "'Israel's' genocide and destruction of Palestinian people."

The statement stressed that global leaders have a "historic responsibility" to prevent "Israel" from expanding its assault on Rafah and the "foreseeable apocalyptic consequences." 

Earlier on Monday, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that Israeli occupation forces committed a massacre in Rafah early this morning, with most of the victims being children and women.

Our correspondent said that Israeli occupation warplanes launched more than 50 airstrikes on Rafah, noting that the occupation forces used internationally prohibited incendiary missiles in its airstrikes.

Statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates - State of Palestine 🇵🇸 🇵🇸 #Gaza_under_attack#CeasefireNow#Palestine#Israeliwarcrimes pic.twitter.com/KQthLZni7z

— State of Palestine - MFA 🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@pmofa) February 12, 2024

"Expressing concern without taking determined effective actions is a moral and political failure, the Ministry indicated.

The statement referred to Gaza as a "slaughterhouse", describing the Israeli occupation's killing, starving, and forcible displacement of 1.3 million people as the "most barbaric and savage of all."

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) stated that the Gaza Strip's population is experiencing "unprecedented levels of near famine-like conditions" due to the prolonged Israeli aggression on Gaza.

Approximately 550,000 people are now at risk of catastrophic food insecurity, and the entire population is in a state of crisis, it added.

Every one of the 2.2 million individuals in Gaza falls within the top three hunger categories, ranging from level three, classified as an emergency, to level five, labeled as a catastrophe, according to the statement.

Earlier in the day, the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas said the massacre committed by "the terrorist Netanyahu government and its Nazi-like army" flies in the face of the urgent measures called for by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), including ceasing all activities amounting to genocide.

ICC 'actively investigating' any crimes committed in Gaza: Prosecutor

International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan said he was "deeply concerned by the reported bombardment and potential ground incursion by Israeli forces in Rafah," stressing that since his last visit to Ramallah, the occupied West Bank, Khan has "not seen any discernible change in conduct by Israel."

In a post on X, Khan said the ICC was "actively investigating any crimes allegedly committed" in Gaza, adding that "those who are in breach of the law will be held accountable."

Moreover, the ICC Prosecutor reminded that "all wars have rules and the laws applicable to armed conflict cannot be interpreted so as to render them hollow or devoid of meaning," as he reaffirmed that "this has been my consistent message."

I am deeply concerned by the reported bombardment and potential ground incursion by Israeli forces in Rafah.

My Office has an ongoing and active investigation into the situation in the State of Palestine. This is being taken forward as a matter of the utmost urgency, with a…

— Karim A. A. Khan KC (@KarimKhanQC) February 12, 2024

Khan also made a clear statement noting that "those who do not comply with the law should not complain later when my Office takes action pursuant to its mandate," while also reaffirming in a conclusory statement that he "continues to call for the immediate release of all hostages."

This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his officials on February 9 to "submit to the cabinet a combined plan for evacuating the population and destroying the battalions" of the Resistance, a statement issued by his office said.

"Israel" has committed yet another brutal massacre against #Palestinians in #Gaza, but this time, in the southern city of #Rafah, where over a million Palestinians live in tents under dire humanitarian conditions.#GazaGenocide #RafahMassacre pic.twitter.com/QtQfFtDlBV

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 12, 2024