International Community Slams Israel’s Rafah Offensive as Global Concern for 1.4 Million Palestinians Grows

5 mins

Aid via crossing halts as conflict intensifies in Rafah where more than 1.4 million people are sheltering

Vital aid for Palestinians entering Gaza via the Rafah border crossing has been halted, as Israel steps up military action in the southern city.

Around 50,000 people have left the area as a result of an Israeli evacuation order, a senior staffer at the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said.

An estimated 1.4 million people have taken refuge in the city, as the conflict engulfed the enclave, destroying infrastructure and homes in vast areas of the besieged territory.

According to media reports, leaflet drops by the Israeli military above eastern Rafah advised communities to move to the so-called safe zone of Al Mawasi, to the west of Rafah, by the Mediterranean Sea.

UN humanitarians have previously rejected similar evacuation initiatives by the Israeli military on the grounds that they represent forced displacement.   

‘In Al Mawasi, there is a severe lack of sufficient infrastructure, including water available, and it is not feasible to support tens of thousands of displaced people there,’ UNRWA spokesperson in Gaza Louise Wateridge told UN News.

Most of Gaza has already been left in ruins

António Guterres, the UN Secretary General, called for crossings into Gaza to be reopened immediately, and urged Israel to stop any escalation of the conflict.

‘Things are moving in the wrong direction. I am disturbed and distressed by the renewed military activity in Rafah by the Israel Defense Forces,’ he said.

‘The closure of both the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings is especially damaging to an already dire humanitarian situation crisis. They must be reopened immediately.’

James Elder, UNICEF spokesperson, said the military offensive on Rafah would have ‘horrific’ consequences.

‘As mind-boggling as this is, it seems to be happening,’ he said , warning that it would be ‘catastrophe upon catastrophe’.

Massive destruction caused by the bombing on a residential apartment in Hamad City, Qatar, in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip

Elder said: ‘There’s nowhere to go. This idea of safe zones, which was first mooted in November, completely ignores the fact that a safe zone – it’s not just not bombing it, although safe zones are being bombed – it’s about making sure that people have access to water, sanitation and food.’

The war in Gaza has driven around 80 per cent of the territory’s population of 2.3 million from their homes and caused vast devastation to homes, hospitals, mosques and schools across several the enclave.

The death toll in Gaza has reached over 34,500 people, according to local health officials.

Global Rafah Condemnation

The words of the senior UN officials have been echoed by many leading international representatives.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said: ‘Australia has been clear about our objections to a major Israeli ground offensive into Rafah, and we have reiterated this to Israel again today. The impacts on Palestinian civilians from an expanded military operation would be devastating.’

‘One million people cannot vanish into thin air. They need protection. They urgently need more humanitarian aid. To this end, the Rafah and Kerem Shalom border crossings must be reopened immediately.’

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock issued a warning on X saying: ‘One million people cannot vanish into thin air. They need protection. They urgently need more humanitarian aid. To this end, the Rafah and Kerem Shalom border crossings must be reopened immediately.’

Displaced Palestinians set up their tents and spend the night in the streets and parks of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on Jan 09, 2024.
Many Palestinians have fled to shelter in Rafah

The African Union, which comprises 55 countries, said it: ‘Strongly condemns the extension of this war to the Rafah crossing, the only corridor for humanitarian aid.’

Save the Children warned of the escalation’s likely impact.

‘We hoped this day would never come,” Inger Ashing, CEO of the aid group, said, warning that an incursion would not only risk the lives of more than 600,000 children but would also severely affect the humanitarian aid response for Gaza.

‘Forcibly displacing people from Rafah while further disrupting the aid response will likely seal the fate of many children,’ he said.

Full Blown Famine

In a related development, the head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that northern Gaza is now experiencing ‘full-blown famine…and it’s moving its way south.’

Cindy McCain’s remarks on Sunday echoed serious and repeated concerns from other senior UN officials and the international community about aid restrictions and delays imposed by Israeli authorities.

‘Only in the past two weeks, we have recorded 10 incidents involving shooting at convoys, arrests of UN staff including bullying, stripping them naked, threats with arms and long delays at checkpoints forcing convoys to move during the dark or abort,’

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini.

‘The Israeli authorities continue to deny humanitarian access to the United Nations,’ insisted UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini.

‘Only in the past two weeks, we have recorded 10 incidents involving shooting at convoys, arrests of UN staff including bullying, stripping them naked, threats with arms and long delays at checkpoints forcing convoys to move during the dark or abort,’ he said in a post on X on Sunday.

Newsletter signup

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER

AND GET OUR LATEST ARTICLES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX EACH WEEK!


THE ETHICALIST. INTELLIGENT CONTENT FOR SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES