Potential Rafah invasion sparks regional, international rejection
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Regional and international parties warn that an Israeli invasion of the densely-populated city of Rafah would lead to a new massacre against the Palestinian people.
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Smoke billows after Israeli bombardment in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on May 6, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Several countries and international sides reiterated Monday their rejection of an Israeli military invasion of the city of Rafah south of the Gaza Strip, following the start of the Israeli occupation military's forceful displacement of the already-displaced Palestinian people currently seeking shelter in the city.
Belgium is working on further sanctions against "Israel" after the latter carried out military operations in the city of Rafah, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter announced.
De Sutter warned on X that "the Israeli call for the evacuation of the citizens and refugees of Rafah, and the announced invasion, will lead to massacre."
France also renewed its rejection of an Israeli invasion of the southern city, with the French Foreign Ministry pointing out that "the forced displacement of civilians constitutes a war crime under international law."
On his part, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell condemned "Israel's" order for Palestinians in eastern Rafah to flee the city ahead of the expected ground invasion.
"Israel's evacuation orders to civilians in Rafah portend the worst: more war and famine. It is unacceptable. Israel must renounce to a ground offensive," Borrell wrote on X.
He underlined that the European Union, "with the International Community, can and must act to prevent such scenario."
Israel's evacuation orders to civilians in Rafah portend the worst: more war and famine. It is unacceptable.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) May 6, 2024
Israel must renounce to a ground offensive and implement UNSCR 2728.
The EU, with the International Community, can and must act to prevent such scenario.
Similarly, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK was "concerned deeply" about a possible invasion of Rafah.
"We are concerned deeply about the prospect of a military incursion into Rafah given the number of civilians that are sheltering there and the importance of that crossing for aid," he told broadcaster Sky News in an interview.
Biden reiterates 'clear position' on Rafah invasion to Netanyahu
US President Joe Biden on Monday "reiterated his clear position" to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against an invasion of Rafah, the White House said.
"The president reiterated his clear position on Rafah," the White House said in a brief readout of a phone call between the two.
Biden told Netanyahu in April that invading Rafah would be a "mistake," and Washington said it does not support an offensive without a credible plan to aid some 1.2 million civilians sheltering there.
South Africa
On its part, South Africa's Foreign Ministry said on Monday it was "horrified" by the Israeli military's announcement that Rafah should be evacuated immediately as it will be operating in the area with "extreme force".
Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry warned in a statement of "grave humanitarian risks" for more than one million Palestinians sheltering there and urged "Israel" to "exercise the utmost restraint."
Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi posted on X: "Another massacre of the Palestinians is in the making... All must act now to prevent it."
Saudi Arabia also warned "Israel" against targeting the city of Rafah as part of its "bloody and systematic" campaign to invade all areas of Gaza and displace its population, Riyadh's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
UN rights chief Volker Turk
The United Nations' human rights chief Volker Turk underlined Monday that the Israeli occupation military's forced displacement of Palestinians from eastern Rafah is "inhumane", warning that suffering and destruction would soar beyond already "unbearable" levels.
Turk said forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee to areas with almost no access to aid for survival was "inconceivable".
"Gazans continue to be hit with bombs, disease, and even famine. And today, they have been told that they must relocate yet again as Israeli military operations into Rafah scale up," he pointed out in a statement.
He said, "This is inhumane. It runs contrary to the basic principles of international humanitarian and human rights laws, which have the effective protection of civilians as their overriding concern."
Turk considered that "forcibly relocating hundreds of thousands from Rafah to areas which have already been flattened and where there is little shelter and virtually no access to humanitarian assistance necessary for their survival is inconceivable. It will only expose them to more danger and misery."
"More attacks on what is now the primary humanitarian hub in the Gaza strip are not the answer," said Turk, adding, "Enough of the killing."
The UN human rights chief renewed his call for a ceasefire, urging that "humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow freely and at scale. And the hostages and those arbitrarily detained must be released at once."
His statement said international humanitarian law prohibited ordering the displacement of civilians for reasons related to a conflict, unless the security of civilians involved or imperative military reasons require it -- and even then it is subject to strict legal requirements.
"Failure to meet these obligations may amount to forced displacement, which is a war crime," it highlighted.
UNICEF
Meanwhile, the United Nations children's agency UNICEF emphasized that some 600,000 children packed into the city of Rafah face "further catastrophe", urging against their forced displacement.
"Given the high concentration of children in Rafah... UNICEF is warning of a further catastrophe for children, with military operations resulting in very high civilian casualties and the few remaining basic services and infrastructure they need to survive being totally destroyed," the agency said in a statement.
It said Gaza's youth were already "on the edge of survival," with many in Rafah -- where the agency said the population has soared to 1.2 million people, half of them children -- already displaced multiple times and with nowhere else to go.
"Rafah is now a city of children, who have nowhere safe to go in Gaza," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said, warning that an Israeli invasion of the city would bring "chaos and panic, and at a time where (children's) physical and mental states are already weakened."
UNICEF estimates that Rafah's population has swelled to nearly five times its normal figure of 250,000 residents. Calling again for a ceasefire and for safe access for humanitarian organizations, the agency highlighted there are some 78,000 infants under age two sheltering in the city, along with 175,000 children under five who are affected by infectious diseases.
UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine
On her part, UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, said that "Israel's" potential invasion of Rafah would only be an "attack on the civilian population," warning of a new massacre in the city.
"From a legal point of view, there is no justification whatsoever to continue this operation. There should be a cease-fire," she told Anadolu Agency.
Albanese noted that, as the occupying power, "Israel" has failed to fulfill its "obligation to provide adequate access to relief the humanitarian needs" under international humanitarian law.
She added that the Israeli occupation is also "preventing others from doing so. When these convoys enter with a huge delay, they're also targeted."
Read more: Rafah invasion would not be a 'picnic' for Israeli forces: Hamas
