GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP – As tensions rise in the border city of Rafah, humanitarian organizations are sounding the alarm about the potential consequences of an Israeli ground offensive. With an estimated 1.3 million people currently in Rafah, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned of the devastating impact an incursion could have on the civilian population.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the Israel Defense Forces are preparing to enter Rafah, which is considered Hamas’s last stronghold. This announcement has raised concerns among non-governmental organizations, with the Norwegian Refugee Council warning that the city could become “a zone of bloodshed and destruction that people won’t be able to escape.”
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has also expressed fears for the over 600,000 children currently residing in Rafah, many of whom have already been displaced from other parts of Gaza due to previous conflicts. Additionally, the heavy fighting in the northern part of Gaza has severely impacted healthcare and humanitarian facilities, prompting calls for the protection of the limited services that remain in the south.
Amidst the looming threat of an Israeli military operation, the potential disruption of essential services such as healthcare, food, and water supply has raised concerns about the increased risk of hunger and disease, particularly for children. The UNICEF Executive Director has stressed the critical importance of safeguarding Gaza’s remaining hospitals, shelters, markets, and water systems to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
As the possibility of renewed conflict looms over Rafah, the international community is closely monitoring the situation and urging all parties involved to prioritize the protection of civilians and humanitarian infrastructure. The implications of an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah are not only a concern for the immediate safety of the population but also for the long-term humanitarian crisis that could unfold in the aftermath of such an operation.