The Israeli army’s seizure of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and southern Gaza has drawn strong criticism from the United Nations and aid agencies. This action has cut off a crucial aid route, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and pushing the enclave closer to famine.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the immediate reopening of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings to allow essential aid supplies to reach the Palestinians in Gaza. The closure of these crossings has worsened the humanitarian crisis, and Guterres emphasized the urgent need for them to be reopened.
Amid fragile ceasefire talks with Hamas, Israel’s seizure of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing has raised concerns. While Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal, Israel has deemed it insufficient and is sending a delegation to discuss the terms with mediators from Qatar and Egypt.
Guterres has warned against an assault on Rafah, highlighting the potential catastrophic consequences for the displaced Palestinians sheltering in the area. Amnesty International has also called on the international community to pressure Israel to halt its ground operations in Rafah and ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.
Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has vowed to continue the operation in Rafah until Hamas is eliminated from the region. However, he expressed willingness to negotiate for the release of captives, indicating a potential for compromise to avoid further escalation.
Link from www.aljazeera.com