Israel is facing international warnings over its planned offensive in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza that is filled with Palestinian refugees. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated that over half of Gaza’s population are seeking shelter in the area, while the Dutch Foreign Minister warned of possible civilian casualties. Saudi Arabia also warned of serious repercussions if Rafah was stormed, and Hamas, the rulers of Gaza, said there could be tens of thousands of casualties. Israel launched its operations in Gaza after Hamas gunmen killed over 1,200 people in southern Israel on 7 October. Since then, more than 27,900 people have been killed and at least 67,000 injured in Gaza. Many Gazans have sought refuge in Rafah after being forced to leave their homes elsewhere. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered his military to prepare to evacuate civilians from the city ahead of an expanded offensive against Hamas. The US has warned Israel that an invasion of Rafah would be a disaster, and both the EU and the UN have expressed concerns. Aid groups have stated that it is not possible to evacuate everyone from the city.
UN humanitarian co-ordinator Jamie McGoldrick said that if Israeli troops launched their offensive, the people in Rafah would have nowhere to go. He stated that the safe areas that were declared are no longer safe and that the situation could get worse. There are believed to be 1.5 million Palestinians seeking refuge in Rafah, most of whom are living in tents. UK Prime Minister David Cameron called for an immediate pause in the fighting to allow aid to be delivered and hostages to be released. The Dutch Foreign Minister described the situation in Rafah as very worrying and stated that it is hard to see how large-scale military operations in such a densely populated area would not lead to civilian casualties. Saudi Arabia also issued a statement warning against targeting the city of Rafah and demanding an immediate ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas’s proposed ceasefire terms.
It is important to note that the BBC is unable to independently verify many of the claims made during the course of the war.
