UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern on Tuesday over Israel’s escalating military activity in and around Rafah, as the ongoing relentless Israeli bombardment rocked the densely populated southern Gaza city, a spokesman said.
In a statement his spokesman Farhan Haq said that Guterres condemned Israel’s military actions, stating that they were exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation and impeding access for aid workers. The UN Chief also criticized Hamas for firing rockets indiscriminately, further endangering civilian lives.
“These developments are further impeding humanitarian access and worsening an already dire situation,” spokesman Farhan Haq said, while also criticizing Hamas for “firing rockets indiscriminately.”
Civilians must be respected and protected at all times — in Rafah and elsewhere in Gaza. For people in Gaza, nowhere is safe now, said the statement.
Guterres reiterates his urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and for the release of all hostages. The secretary-general calls for the Rafah crossing to be re-opened immediately for humanitarian access throughout Gaza, said the statement.
According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), nearly 450,000 people have been forcibly displaced from Rafah since Israel began issuing evacuation orders eight days ago. An additional 100,000 people have fled their homes in northern Gaza due to renewed Israeli bombardment, bringing the total number of displaced persons to around a quarter of Gaza’s population.
Israel’s military incursion into Rafah, which included the seizure of key crossings on the Egyptian border, has raised concerns about a potential ground assault. The UN has warned of a humanitarian catastrophe if such an invasion were to occur, particularly in a city already overwhelmed by displaced persons.
UNRWA described the dire conditions faced by those fleeing Rafah, with many families seeking refuge in makeshift shelters lacking basic necessities like water, electricity, and sewage services. Aid agencies have struggled to cope with the influx of displaced persons, as existing infrastructure has been severely damaged or destroyed.
Meanwhile, NGO Human Rights Watch said on X that the killing of a foreign UN staff member in Rafah earlier today is proof that “there is nowhere safe to go in Gaza”.
The organisation pointed out that the vehicle carrying the staff member who was killed – and another who was wounded – was on its way to a hospital when it was struck and heavily damaged by Israeli fire.
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