Rafah, a city in the Gaza Strip on the border with Egypt, faces a humanitarian crisis as a potential Israeli assault looms. With a population that has grown from 250,000 to 1.5 million due to civilians fleeing there, the warning from a top UN official is dire. Humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths has cautioned that an Israeli attack on Rafah could result in a “slaughter” and have catastrophic consequences.
The situation in Rafah has become increasingly tense as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to defeat Hamas gunmen who he alleges are hiding in the city. Griffiths emphasized the severity of the conditions faced by over a million people in Rafah, highlighting the lack of food, access to medicine, and safe places to seek refuge.
Furthermore, the UN has not received any evacuation plans for Rafah from Israel and has rejected participation in any forced displacement of people. The city’s vulnerability has been exacerbated by heavy Israeli air strikes, leaving its residents in desperate conditions, with many having nowhere else to go. Additionally, humanitarian workers in Gaza have faced danger, including being shot at and attacked, due to the breakdown in law and order.
International pressure has mounted on Israel to refrain from invading Rafah, as senior officials from the US, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar engage in talks to avert an impending crisis. President Joe Biden and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron have both issued warnings and calls for caution to Israel, underscoring the urgency of protecting civilians and avoiding further escalation of violence.
The tensions in Rafah stem from a retaliatory cycle of violence initiated by attacks in Israel by Hamas-led gunmen, which prompted a military campaign by Israel in the Gaza Strip. The toll of this conflict includes a staggering number of casualties, with thousands of Palestinians killed and wounded since the war began. These developments underscore the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to prevent further suffering and loss of life in the region.