UN warns against Israeli ground invasion of Rafah, fearing catastrophic loss of life

Israel has stated its intention to root out Hamas militants from their hideouts in Rafah and secure the release of Israeli hostages reportedly held there.

The United Nations issued a stark warning on Tuesday, cautioning against a potential Israeli ground invasion of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. The U.N. expressed grave concerns that such an offensive could result in a catastrophic loss of life in the densely populated southern region of the Palestinian enclave, where over 1 million people are seeking shelter.

Israel has stated its intention to root out Hamas militants from their hideouts in Rafah and secure the release of Israeli hostages reportedly held there. Plans are being made to evacuate Palestinian civilians who are trapped in the area.

“Military operations in Rafah could lead to a slaughter in Gaza. They could also leave an already fragile humanitarian operation at death’s door,” said U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths. “We lack the safety guarantees, the aid supplies and the staff capacity to keep this operation afloat.

“The international community has been warning against the dangerous consequences of any ground invasion in Rafah. The Government of Israel cannot continue to ignore these calls,” he said in a statement.

Efforts to negotiate a Gaza truce involving the U.S., Egypt, Israel, and Qatar have so far yielded no breakthrough, with mounting appeals for Israel to refrain from its planned assault on Rafah.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed hope that negotiations for the release of hostages and a cessation of hostilities would succeed in averting a full-scale offensive in Rafah, which he warned would have devastating consequences.

The conflict in Gaza, governed by Hamas, erupted following Hamas militants’ attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in casualties and the capture of hostages, according to Israeli reports. In retaliation, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, resulting in significant loss of life among Palestinians, with thousands feared dead amid the widespread destruction.

Rafah, home to more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, is grappling with dire humanitarian conditions, with many people living in makeshift tents along the border fence with Egypt. Griffiths described their situation as dire, with limited access to food, medical care, and shelter, leaving them vulnerable and “staring death in the face.”

He lamented the crumbling state of the humanitarian response, emphasizing the urgent need for sustained support to address the escalating crisis.