The humanitarian crisis in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, continues to worsen, causing deep concern from the international community. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his concern during an address to the UN General Assembly, highlighting the dire consequences of an expansion of Israeli operations in the region.
In this city where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are desperately seeking refuge, the situation is described as a “humanitarian nightmare with unimaginable regional consequences”. Guterres urged an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also expressed concerns about a possible expansion of Israeli military operations in Rafah during meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials. The town of Rafah was home to thousands of displaced civilians as fighting intensified in northern Gaza and slowly spread south.
However, the residents of Rafah find themselves trapped, with no possible escape route. The city is located on the border with Egypt, but the crossing to that country has been closed for months.
General Herzi Halevi, chief of staff of the Israeli army, briefed Blinken on the complex situation in Rafah, with a significant presence of civilians and close proximity to the Egyptian border.
The humanitarian crisis in Rafah once again illustrates the urgency of international action to end the suffering of civilians and find a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The desperate situation requires mobilization of the international community to provide immediate humanitarian assistance and open safe evacuation routes for the residents of Rafah. It is imperative that world leaders do everything possible to achieve a ceasefire and find a peaceful solution to this devastating conflict.