Over the weekend, the World Health Organization‘s chief passionately implored Israel to reconsider any plans of launching an offensive on Rafah, stressing the imperative of preserving human life amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed grave concern regarding reports of an Israeli plan to proceed with a ground assault on Rafah, as conveyed in a message on X, formerly Twitter.
He added that further escalation of violence in that densely populated area would result in many more deaths and increased suffering.
“I’m gravely concerned about reports of an Israeli plan to proceed with a ground assault on Rafah,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“Further escalation of violence in this densely populated area would lead to many more deaths and suffering,” he added.
“In the name of humanity, we appeal to Israel not to proceed and instead to work towards peace.”
An evacuation planned by the Israeli army ahead of launching its assault was not a practical solution, he argued.
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“The 1.2 million people in Rafah do not have anywhere safe to move to.
“There are no fully functional, safe health facilities that they can reach elsewhere in Gaza,” he said. “Many people are too fragile, hungry and sick to be moved again…
“This humanitarian catastrophe must not be allowed to worsen.”
The go-ahead from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came for the military’s operational blueprints in Rafah, as disclosed in a statement on Friday, lacking specifics and a timeframe.
Consistently, both the United Nations and the United States have voiced concerns and warnings regarding the initiation of such a military operation.
Netanyahu has persistently pledged to press on with the conflict, asserting his commitment to dismantling Hamas following the October 7 assault by Islamist militants.
About 1,160 deaths occurred in Israel as a result of the Hamas attack, with the majority being civilians, according to an AFP count of official statistics.
According to the health ministry, Israel’s sustained bombardment and ground invasion in retaliation have resulted in the deaths of at least 31,553 individuals in Gaza, with most of the casualties being women and children.