EU High Representative Warns of Consequences of Israel’s Attack on Rafah
The Situation in Gaza: Israeli Attack on Rafah Alarming
The latest developments in the situation between Israel and Palestine have been cause for concern. In a statement on his social media account, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called attention to the dire situation of approximately 1.4 million Palestinians in the city of Rafah, south of Gaza.
Borrell emphasized that the people of Rafah have nowhere safe to go and are facing starvation. He warned that reports of an Israeli attack on Rafah are alarming and will lead to catastrophic consequences, worsening the already dire humanitarian situation and increasing civilian casualties.
Meanwhile, Israel rejected Hamas’ offer of a three-stage ceasefire and mutual prisoner exchange, each lasting 45 days. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the army and security services to prepare a plan to attack the southern Gaza Strip and displace the Palestinians who have taken refuge there.
The US State Department has assessed that an Israeli attack on Rafah would be a “disaster”. The ongoing air, land, and sea attacks on the Gaza Strip have resulted in substantial casualties, with 27,947 Palestinians, including at least 12,000 children and 8,190 women, killed and 67,459 Palestinians injured since October 7, 2023.
The situation is exacerbated by the destruction of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and educational institutions where people have sought shelter. It is also reported that there are still thousands of dead under the rubble.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation and calls for an immediate halt to the violence to prevent further loss of life and suffering for the people of Gaza.
