Israel-Gaza war: UN warns of ‘slaughter’ as Rafah offensive looms
- The UN humanitarian office said attacking Rafah would deal a huge blow to the aid operations of entire Gaza
- The World Health Organization is opening a new field hospital in the city, where about a million displaced people have taken shelter
An Israeli incursion in Rafah would put the lives of hundreds of thousands of Gazans at risk and be a huge blow to the aid operations of the entire enclave, the UN humanitarian office said on Friday, as the World Health Organization announced contingency plans for an incursion.
Israel has repeatedly warned of an operation against Hamas in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where around a million displaced people are crowded together, having fled months of Israeli bombardments triggered by Hamas fighters’ deadly cross-border attack on October 7.
“It could be a slaughter of civilians and an incredible blow to the humanitarian operation in the entire strip because it is run primarily out of Rafah,” said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office (OCHA), at a Geneva press briefing.
Israel has said it will work to ensure the safe evacuation of civilians from Rafah. The United States has long said it cannot support an assault on Rafah by its ally Israel unless there is a comprehensive plan to protect civilians.
Israel has given Washington some preliminary information, said a US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, but “we haven’t seen a full plan, nothing that would give us the confidence we’re looking for.”