Attempts to stop the Israeli attack in Rafah, fear of a new humanitarian crisis

Since October 7, 2023, it has become abundantly clear that no place in the Gaza Strip is safe from Israeli aggression, yet millions of Palestinians have moved to Rafah, hoping to escape the bombardment, after an Israeli warning.

But now that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has declared Rafah as the ‘last bastion’ of Hamas, Israel has decided to take military action there as well. will be People here are already severely deprived of food and other basic needs.

As of October 7, 2023, Rafah was already one of the most densely populated cities in Gaza, with approximately 280,000 people living within 23 square miles. It is now home to around 1.4 lakh people and according to local authorities, it is difficult to find even four square meters of vacant space here.

Any kind of ground or air military operation with so many people in a confined area can have very serious effects on the population.

The biggest concern with the Israeli offensive on Rafah is the delivery of humanitarian aid, which is already severely hampered. There are currently only two border crossings for the delivery of humanitarian aid, the Rafah crossing (from Egypt) and the Karim Shalom / Karim Abu Salem crossing (from Israel).

Shaina Lowe, a communications adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council based in East Jerusalem, told Time magazine that “if there is fighting in Rafah, it will severely hamper aid operations.”

Bob Kitchen, vice president of emergencies at the International Rescue Committee, said in a statement last week that “if not killed in combat, there is a risk that Palestinian children, women and men will die of starvation or disease.”

Jordan’s King Abdullah II met with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday as the international community continues its efforts for a cease-fire and release of prisoners amid the worst Israeli aggression.

King Abdullah II of Jordan said, “We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah.” This will lead to further human destruction. The situation is already unbearable for the more than one million people who have been pushed into Rafah since the war began. We cannot allow this to happen any longer. We need a lasting ceasefire now. This war must end.’

He said, ‘Continuous increase of extremist settlers in the holy places of the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem. And the expansion of illegal settlements will spread unrest throughout the region.’

US President Joe Biden said that “many of the more than 27,000 Palestinians who lost their lives in this conflict are innocent civilians and children.” Including thousands of children and millions without access to food, water or other basic facilities.

Pakistan’s Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani has condemned Israel’s recent bombing and ‘aggression’ in Rafah as deplorable and a grave violation of international law and human rights, and has condemned acts of violence against innocent Palestinians.

Meanwhile, China also urged Israel on Tuesday to stop its military operation in Rafah, Gaza, “as soon as possible” and warned that if the fighting does not stop, there could be a “serious humanitarian disaster” there. .

“China opposes and condemns actions that harm civilians and violate international law,” a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

He urged Israel to stop its military operation as soon as possible and to do everything possible to avoid innocent civilian casualties.

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